   james owens vc (1827 &ndash; 20 august 1901) was born in killaine, bailieborough, county cavan and was an irish recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. ==details== he was about 27 years old, and a corporal in the 49th regiment of foot (later the royal berkshire regiment (princess charlotte of wales's)), british army during the crimean war when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the vc. on 30 october 1854 at sebastopol, in the crimean peninsula, corporal owens greatly distinguished himself in a personal encounter with the russians, and gave assistance to a lieutenant of his regiment. he later achieved the rank of sergeant. he died romford, essex, 20 august 1901. his victoria cross is displayed at the rifles (berkshire and wiltshire) museum(salisbury, wiltshire, england). ==references==  listed in order of publication year  *the register of the victoria cross (1981, 1988 and 1997) * *irelands vcs isbn 1-899243-00-3 (dept of economic development 1995) *monuments to courage (david harvey, 1999) *irish winners of the victoria cross (richard doherty & david truesdale, 2000) *dictionary of ulster biography http://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewperson/1977 ==external links== *location of grave and vc medal (essex)  
1829_births 1901_deaths 19th-century_Irish_people British_Army_personnel_of_the_Crimean_War British_Army_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Crimean_War_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Irish_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Irish_soldiers_in_the_British_Army People_from_County_Cavan Royal_Berkshire_Regiment_soldiers