List of Victoria Cross recipients by campaign 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. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals, and may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command.^[1] The award was officially constituted when Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856 that was gazetted on 5 February 1856.^[2] The order was backdated to 1854 to recognise acts of valour during the Crimean War.^[3] The first awards ceremony was held on 26 June 1857, where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park.^[4]

The first citations of the VC, particularly those in the initial gazette of 24 February 1857, varied in the details of each action; some specify date ranges while some specify a single date. The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously.^[5] Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six soldiers. The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920, but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous.^[6] Three people have been awarded the VC and Bar, which is a medal for two actions; Noel Chavasse, Arthur Martin-Leake and Charles Upham.^[7] Chavasse received both medals for actions in the First World War, while Martin-Leake was awarded his first VC for actions in the Second Boer War, and his second for actions during the First World War. Charles Upham received both VCs for actions during the Second World War.

The Victoria Cross has been awarded 1,358 times to 1,355 individual recipients. The largest number of recipients for one campaign is the First World War, for which 628 medals were awarded to 627 recipients.^[8] The largest number awarded for actions on a single day was 24 on 16 November 1857, at the Second Relief of Lucknow, during the Indian Mutiny.^[9] The largest number awarded for a single action was 18, for the assault on Sikandar Bagh, during the Second Relief of Lucknow. The largest number awarded to one unit during a single action was 7, to the 2nd/24th Foot, for the defence of Rorke's Drift (22–23 January 1879), during the Zulu War.^[10]

Since 1991, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have created their own separate Victoria Crosses: the Victoria Cross for Australia, the Victoria Cross (Canada), and the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. Only five of these separate medals have been awarded, all for actions in the War in Afghanistan; Willie Apiata received the Victoria Cross for New Zealand on 26 July 2007; on 16 January 2009 Mark Donaldson, on 24 August 2010 Daniel Keighran, on 23 January 2011 Ben Roberts-Smith, and on 13 February 2014 Cameron Baird (posthumous award), were awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia. As these are separate medals, they are not included in this list.

Recipients	Unit	Campaign	Dates	Location
000 a111 Crimean War recipients‡	000 a—	Crimean WarCrimean War	1854 - 18561854 - 1856	000 a—
	02020th Bombay Native Infantry	Anglo-Persian War	1856-08-099 August 1856	Bushire, Persia
	0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry	Anglo-Persian War	1857-02-088 February 1857	Khoosh-ab, Persia
	0033rd Bombay Light Cavalry	Anglo-Persian War	1858-02-078 February 1857	Khoosh-ab, Persia
000.1182 Indian Mutiny recipients‡	000.1—	Indian MutinyIndian Mutiny	18581857 - 1859	000.1—
	06767th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	06767th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	06767th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	06767th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	06767th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	04444th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
	04444th Regiment of Foot	Third China War	1860-08-2121 August 1860	Taku Forts, China
000.1515 New Zealand Wars recipients‡	000.15—	New Zealand Land WarsNew Zealand Wars	1860 - 18651860 - 1865	000.15—
	Naval Brigade	Taiping Rebellion	1862-10-099 October 1862	Fenghua, China
	0044th Bengal European Regiment	Umbeyla Campaign	1863-10-3030 October 1863	Crag Picquet, India
	0044th Punjab Infantry	Umbeyla Campaign	1863-10-3030 October 1863	Crag Picquet, India
	HMS Euryalus	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	1864-09-066 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
	Royal Navy	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	1864-09-066 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
	HMS Euryalus	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	1864-09-066 September 1864	Kanmon Straits, Japan
	Bengal Engineers	Bhutan War	1865-04-3030 April 1865	Dewan-Giri, India
	Bengal Engineers	Bhutan War	1865-04-3030 April 1865	Dewan-Giri, India
	Rifle Brigade	—	1866-06-099 June 1866	Danville, Quebec
	West India Regiment	The Gambia	1866-06-3030 June 1866	Tubabecelong, Gambia
	02424th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	1867-05-077 May 1867	Little Andaman
	02424th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	1867-05-077 May 1867	Little Andaman
	02424th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	1867-05-077 May 1867	Little Andaman
	02424th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	1867-05-077 May 1867	Little Andaman
	02424th Regiment of Foot	Andaman Islands Expedition	1867-05-077 May 1867	Little Andaman
	03333rd Regiment of Foot	Abyssinian War	1868-04-1313 April 1868	Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
	03333rd Regiment of Foot	Abyssinian War	1868-04-1313 April 1868	Battle of Magdala, Abyssinia
	0022nd Gurkha Rifles	Looshai Expedition	1872-01-044 January 1872	Lalgnoora, India
	02424th Regiment of Foot	First Ashanti Expedition	1873–1874	Becquah, Ashanti
	0066th Bengal Cavalry	First Ashanti Expedition	1874-01-1717 January 1874	Abogu, Ashanti
	04242nd Regiment of Foot	First Ashanti Expedition	1874-01-2121 January 1874	Amoaful, Ashanti
	Corps of Royal Engineers	First Ashanti Expedition	1874-02-044 February 1874	Ordashu, Ashanti
	Bengal Staff Corps	Perak War	1875-12-2020 December 1875	Malaya, Malaysia
	Bengal Staff Corps	Baluchistan	1877-07-2626 July 1877	Quetta, India
	08888th Regiment of Foot	9th Cape Frontier War	1877-12-2929 December 1877	King William's Town, Cape Colony
000.223 Zulu War recipients‡	000.2—	Zulu WarZulu War	18791879	000.2—
000.316 Second Afghan War recipients‡	000.3—	Second Afghan WarSecond Afghan War	1878 - 18801878 - 1880	000.3—
	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	1879-04-088 April 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	1879-04-088 April 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
	Cape Mounted Riflemen	Basuto War	1879-06-055 June 1879	Morosi's Mountain, South Africa
	94th Regiment of Foot	Campaign against Sekukuni	1879-11-2828 November 1879	Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
	94th Regiment of Foot	Campaign against Sekukuni	1879-11-2828 November 1879	Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
	0011st Cape Mounted Yeomanry	Basuto War	1881-01-1414 January 1881	Tweefontein, South Africa
	Bengal Staff Corps	Second Naga Hills Expedition	1879-11-2222 November 1879	Konama, India
	Nourse's Horse	First Boer War	1881-01-1616 January 1881	Elandsfontein, South Africa
	94th Regiment of Foot	First Boer War	1881-01-1616 January 1881	Elandsfontein, South Africa
	0011st King's Dragoon Guards	First Boer War	1881-01-2828 January 1881	Laing's Nek, South Africa
	58th Regiment of Foot	First Boer War	1881-01-2828 January 1881	Laing's Nek, South Africa
	58th Regiment of Foot	First Boer War	1881-02-2222 February 1881	Wesselstroom, South Africa
	Army Medical Department	First Boer War	1881-02-2727 February 1881	Majubu Hill, South Africa
	HMS Alexandra	Occupation of Egypt	1882-07-1111 July 1882	Alexandria, Egypt
	King's Royal Rifle Corps	Occupation of Egypt	1882-08-055 August 1882	Kafr Dowar, Egypt
	Highland Light Infantry	Occupation of Egypt	1882-09-1313 September 1882	Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt
	01919th Hussars	Sudan Campaign	1884-02-2929 February 1884	El Teb, Sudan
	HMS Hecla	Sudan Campaign	1884-02-2929 February 1884	El Teb, Sudan
	Black Watch	Sudan Campaign	1884-03-1313 March 1884	Tamai, Sudan
	King's Royal Rifle Corps	Sudan Campaign	1884-03-1313 March 1884	Tamai, Sudan
	Royal Regiment of Artillery	Sudan Campaign	1885-01-1717 January 1885	Abu Klea, Sudan
	02121st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	1898-09-022 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
	02121st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	1898-09-022 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
	02121st Lancers	Sudan Campaign	1898-09-022 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
	0022nd Dragoon Guards	Sudan Campaign	1898-09-022 September 1898	Omdurman, Sudan
	Highland Light Infantry	Sudan Campaign	1898-09-2222 September 1898	Gedarif, Sudan
	Bombay Medical Service	British rule in Burma	1889-01-011 January 1889	Karenni, Burma
	Army Medical Department	British rule in Burma	1889-05-044 May 1889	Tartan, Burma
	Indian Staff Corps	Manipur Expedition	1891-03-2121 March 1891 to 9 April 1891	Thobal, Burma
	Corps of Royal Engineers	Hunza-Naga Campaign	1891-12-022 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
	0055th Gurkha Rifles	Hunza-Naga Campaign	1891-12-022 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
	0055th Gurkha Rifles	Hunza-Naga Campaign	1891-12-2020 December 1891	Nilt Fort, India
	West India Regiment	The Gambia	1892-03-1313 March 1892	Toniataba, Gambia
	Army Medical Department	Kachin Hills Expedition	1893-01-066 January 1893	Fort Sima, Burma
	Indian Medical Service	Chitral Expedition	1895-03-033 March 1895	Chitral Fort, India
	Bulawayo Field Force	Matabeleland Rebellion	1896-03-3030 March 1896	Bulawayo, Rhodesia
	Bulawayo Field Force	Matabeleland Rebellion	1896-04-2222 April 1896*	Umguza, Rhodesia
	Mashonaland Mounted Police	Mashona Rebellion	1896-06-1919 June 1896	Salisbury, Rhodesia
	02222nd Punjab Infantry	Siege of Malakand	1897-07-2626 July 1897	Malakand, India
	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	1897-09-1616 September 1897	Bilot, India
	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	1897-09-1616 September 1897	Bilot, India
	Corps of Royal Engineers	Mohmand Campaign	1897-09-1616 September 1897	Bilot, India
	Corps of Guides	Tirah Campaign	1897-08-1717 August 1897	Swat, India
	Corps of Guides	Tirah Campaign	1897-08-1717 August 1897*	Swat, India
	01616th Lancers	Tirah Campaign	1897-08-1717 August 1897	Swat, India
	Sherwood Foresters	Tirah Campaign	1897-10-2020 October 1897	Dargai, India
	Gordon Highlanders	Tirah Campaign	1897-10-2020 October 1897	Dargai, India
	Gordon Highlanders	Tirah Campaign	1897-10-2020 October 1897	Dargai, India
	Dorset Regiment	Tirah Campaign	1897-10-2020 October 1897	Dargai, India
	HMS Hazard	Occupation of Crete	1898-09-066 September 1898	Crete, Greece
	Seaforth Highlanders	Third Ashanti Expedition	1900-06-066 June 1900	Dompoassi, Ashanti
	Indian Staff Corps	Third Ashanti Expedition	1900-09-3030 September 1900	Obassa, Ashanti
	Royal Marine Light Infantry	Boxer Rising	1900-06-2424 June 1900	Peking, China
	Naval Brigade	Boxer Rising	1900-07-1313 July 1900	China
000.478 Second Boer War recipients‡	000.4—	Second Boer WarSecond Boer War	1899 - 19021899 - 1902	000.4—
	King's African Rifles	Second Somaliland Expedition	1902-10-066 October 1902	Erego, Somaliland
	0044th Gurkha Rifles	Third Somaliland Expedition	1903-04-2222 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
	Rifle Brigade	Third Somaliland Expedition	1903-04-2222 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
	0011st Bombay Grenadiers	Third Somaliland Expedition	1903-04-2222 April 1903	Daratoleh, Somaliland
	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Fourth Somaliland Expedition	1903-12-1919 December 1903	Jidballi, Somaliland
	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Fourth Somaliland Expedition	1904-01-1010 January 1904	Jidballi, Somaliland
	002Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)	Kano-Sokoto Expedition	1903-02-2626 February 1903	Northern Nigeria
	0088th Gurkha Rifles	Armed Mission to Tibet	1904-07-066 July 1904	Gyantse Fortress
000.5627 First World War recipients‡	000.5—	First World WarFirst World War	1914 - 19181914 - 1918	000.5—
	HM Coastal Motor Boat 4	North Russia Relief Force	1919-06-1717 June 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
	Royal Fusiliers	North Russia Relief Force	1919-08-1010 August 1919	Sheika River, Russia
	HM Coastal Motor Boat 31	North Russia Relief Force	1919-08-1818 August 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
	HM Coastal Motor Boat 88	North Russia Relief Force	1919-08-1818 August 1919	Kronstadt, Russia
	Royal Fusiliers	North Russia Relief Force	1919-08-2929 August 1919*	Emtsa, Russia
	Indian Medical Service	Waziristan Campaign	1919-10-2222 October 1919*	Khajuri, Waziristan
	03939th Garhwal Rifles	Waziristan Campaign	1920-01-022 January 1920*	Kot Kai, Waziristan
	02828th Punjab Regiment	Waziristan Campaign	1921-04-1010 April 1921	Haidari Kach, Waziristan
	Manchester Regiment	Arab Revolt	1920-07-2424 July 1920*	Hillah, Mesopotamia
	01212th Frontier Force Regiment	Second Mohmand Campaign	1935-09-2929 September 1935*	Mamund Valley, India
000.6181 Second World War recipients‡	000.6—	Second World WarSecond World War	1939 - 19451939 - 1945	000.6—
	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	Korean War	1950-09-2323 September 1950*	Songju, Korea
	Gloucestershire Regiment	Korean War	1950-04-2222 - 23 April 1951	Imjin River, Korea
	Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry	Korean War	1950-04-2222 - 23 April 1951*	Imjin River, Korea
	Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)	Korean War	1951-11-044 November 1951	Hill 217, Korea
	01010th Gurkha Rifles	Malaysia-Indonesia Confrontation	1965-11-2121 November 1965	Sarawak, Borneo
	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	1965-11-1313 November 1965*	Tra Bong, Vietnam
	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	1967-02-2323 February 1967 7 March 1967 7 April 1967*	Huong Tra, Vietnam
	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	1969-05-066 - 11 May 1969	Kon Tum province, Vietnam
	Australian Army Training Team Vietnam	Vietnam War	1969-05-2424 May 1969	Ben Het, Vietnam
	Parachute Regiment	Falklands War	1982-05-2828 May 1982*	Goose Green, Falkland Islands
	Parachute Regiment	Falklands War	1982-06-1212 June 1982*	Mount Longdon, Falkland Islands
	Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	Iraq War	2004-05-011 May 2004 11 June 2004	Al-Amarah, Iraq
	Parachute Regiment	War in Afghanistan	2006-07-2727 July 2006 20 August 2006*	Sangin, Afghanistan
	Grenadier Guards	War in Afghanistan	2012-06-1313 June 2012*	Nahiri Saraj District, Afghanistan
	Parachute Regiment	War in Afghanistan	2013-08-2222 August 2013	Helmand Province, Afghanistan

Notes

• A  Between 1858 and 1881, the Victoria Cross could be awarded for actions taken "under circumstances of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy. O'Hea single-handedly put out a fire in an ammunition cart, and was awarded the VC for that action. This rule was changed in 1881 to allow only acts "in the presence of the enemy".^[11]
• B  628 Medals were awarded to 627 recipients. Two Bars were awarded; Noel Godfrey Chavasse was awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar for two separate actions; Arthur Martin-Leake was awarded a VC in the Second Boer War, and his Bar for actions in the First World War.
• C  182 medals were awarded to 181 recipients; Charles Upham was awarded the Victoria Cross and Bar.

References

General

• Book: Arthur, Max . Max Arthur . Symbol of Courage; Men behind the Medal . Pan books . 2005 . 978-0-330-49133-4.
• Book: Ashcroft, Michael . Michael Ashcroft . Victoria Cross Heroes . Headline Book Publishing . 2006 . 0-7553-1632-0 . registration .
• Book: Crook, M.J. . The Evolution of the Victoria Cross . Midas books . 1975 . 0-85936-041-5.
• Web site: Victoria Cross Registers . . 5 August 2009.

Specific

Notes and References

1. Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI - XIII
2. The Gazette publishing the original Royal Warrant
   
3. Ashcroft, Michael; pp.7 - 10
4. Ashcroft, Michael; Preface to Victoria Cross Heroes
5. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
6. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68 - 90
7. Ashcroft, Michael, Introduction: A brief History of the VC (pp.14 - 18)
8. Arthur, Max; pp.185 - 371
9. Web site: Welcome the Imperial War Museum's Collections Home Page : The Victoria Cross . 2006-09-30 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927091522/http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.941 . 27 September 2011 .
10. Arthur, Max; p.XIV
11. Web site: VC background . https://web.archive.org/web/20071006193449/http://www.britishwargraves.org.uk/newsite/medals/Victoria_Cross.htm . 6 October 2007 . British War Graves Memorial . 7 April 2008 .