List of Victoria Cross recipients from the British 2nd Division explained

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced, in Great Britain, on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service, and to civilians under military command. All those who earn the VC have their names published in The London Gazette.

The 2nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was formed and disbanded several times over a 200-year period. It was raised in 1854, to take part in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. It played an important role in the Battle of Inkerman, and was engaged throughout the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855). In 1856, after the conclusion of hostilities, the division was disbanded. During the war, ten VCs were earned by members of the division. It was formed again, in 1899, for service in the Second Boer War. The division took part in all the notable battles that made up the Relief of Ladysmith. At the end of 1900, when conventional warfare ended, the division was broken-up so its forces could be reassigned in an effort to combat the Boer guerrilla tactics. During this period, a further eight VCs were earned by soldiers who were part of the division. The division was reformed in 1902, and went on to fight in many of the major battles on the Western Front during the First World War (1914–1918). During the four years of war, eighteen members of the division earned VCs. The division next saw combat during the Second World War (1939–1945), which resulted in three more soldiers being awarded the VC. Since the Second World War, the division has not been in battle and was disbanded for the final time in 2012.

Recipients

width=10% scope="col"Date of actionwidth=10% scope="col"Rankwidth=25% scope="col"Namewidth=25% scope="col"Unitwidth=10% scope="col"Place of actionwidth=10% scope="col"Country of actionclass=unsortable width=10% scope="col"Sources+
26 October 1854Brevet-Major49th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
26 October 1854Sergeant Major41st Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia[1]
30 October 1854Corporal49th Regiment of FootCrimeaRussia
5 November 1854Private55th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
5 November 1854Private47th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
5 November 1854Brevet-Major41st Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
5 November 1854Brevet-Major30th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
5 November 1854Sergeant49th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia
8 September 1855Lieutenant-Colonel3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, CrimeaRussia
8 September 1855Private3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, CrimeaRussia
15 December 1899MajorRoyal Army Medical CorpsColensoNatal
15 December 1899CaptainRifle BrigadeColensoNatal
15 December 1899CorporalRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal
15 December 1899CaptainRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal
15 December 1899LieutenantKing's Royal Rifle CorpsColensoNatal
15 December 1899CaptainRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal
23 February 1900PrivateEast Surrey RegimentWynne's HillNatal
27 February 1900CaptainWest Yorkshire RegimentTugelaNatal
23 August 1914Corporal15th The King's HussarsHarmingniesBelgium
25–26 August 1914Lance CorporalColdstream GuardsLandreciesFrance
14 September 1914PrivateHighland Light InfantryVerneuilFrance
19–20 September 1914CaptainRoyal Army Medical CorpsHaute-AvesnesFrance
28 September 1914Lance CorporalColdstream GuardsNear SoupirFrance
29 October–8 November 1914LieutenantRoyal Army Medical CorpsZonnebekeBelgium
11 November 1914LieutenantHighland Light InfantryBecelaereBelgium
1 February 1915Lance CorporalIrish GuardsCuinchyFrance
16 May 1915Lance CorporalKing's (Liverpool Regiment)Rue du BoisFrance
25 September 1915CaptainSouth Staffordshire RegimentCuinchyFrance
27 September 1915CorporalHertfordshire RegimentCuinchyFrance
16 November 1915Second LieutenantPrincess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)VermellesFrance
24 October 1916SergeantKing's Royal Rifle CorpsDelville WoodFrance
17 February 1917Lance SergeantRoyal FusiliersNear MiraumontFrance
29 April 1917Lance CorporalPrincess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)OppyFrance
30 November 1917Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Royal FusiliersNear MoeuvresFrance
30 November–1 December 1917Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)Near MoeuvresFrance
16 April 1918PrivateKing's (Liverpool Regiment)Boisieux St. MarcFrance
15–16 May 1940Second LieutenantDurham Light InfantryRiver DyleBelgium
21 May 1940Company Sergeant-MajorRoyal Norfolk RegimentRiver Escaut near TournaiBelgium
4–6 May 1944Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)Royal Norfolk RegimentKohimaIndia

See also

References

. Michael Ashcroft. Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. London. 2006. 978-0-75531-632-8. registration.

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WO 98/3/63: Victoria Cross details of Madden, Ambrose Rank. The National Archives. 3 January 2021.

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