List of Victoria Cross recipients by nationality

This is a list of recipients of the Victoria Cross by nationality. This list does not include the Victoria Cross awarded to the American Unknown Soldier of World War I Tomb of the Unknowns, buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was awarded the VC posthumously in 1921. This gesture reciprocated the award of the Medal of Honor to the British Unknown Warrior.

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the British armed forces. A small number of Commonwealth countries still participate in the British (Imperial) honours system and would still be eligible to make Victoria Cross recommendations for their service personal but none of these countries have ever been awarded the Victoria Cross. The last occasion a Commonwealth country was awarded the Victoria Cross was in 1969 during the Vietnam War and today all Commonwealth countries whose armed forces had been awarded the Victoria Cross under the British honours systems have their own honours systems and their own orders, decorations and medals. The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other British orders, decorations and medals and may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and although civilians under military command are eligible for the award none has been awarded since 1879. The Victoria Cross has often been presented to the recipient during an investiture by the British monarch. The last award of the reign of King George VI and all awards of the reign of the present Queen with the exception of the two posthumous awards to the Australian Army during the Vietnam War have been presented by Queen Elizabeth II. The VC has been awarded on 1358 occasions to 1355 individual recipients.

The original Royal Warrant and all warrants to this day contain both expulsion and restoration clauses. Eight recipients between 1861 and 1908 had their awards rescinded and although no award has ever been restored the names of the eight are included in the list. The original warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1857 and 1901, twelve 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 for the South African War 1899-1902, the next of kin of three of the soldiers were sent medals by registered post in 1902. In the same gazette the first three posthumous awards were awarded and also sent to the next of kin. In 1907, the posthumous policy was reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men.[1] 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.[2][3]

For a short time in the middle 1800s, the VC was awarded for actions taken not in the face of the enemy. Six were awarded at this time for actions taken not in the face of the enemy. (Campbell Mellis Douglas was one of these recipients.)

Most Commonwealth countries have now created their own honours systems. Since 1991, three Commonwealth countries; Australia, Canada and New Zealand have created their own operational gallantry awards. In each case, their highest award for most conspicuous bravery was named in honour of the British (Imperial) Victoria Cross; the Victoria Cross for Australia, the Victoria Cross (Canada) and the Victoria Cross for New Zealand. One Victoria Cross for New Zealand was awarded to Willie Apiata on 26 July 2007; four Victoria Crosses for Australia have been awarded to Mark Donaldson, Ben Roberts-Smith, Daniel Keighran and Cameron Baird. All five awards were for actions in Afghanistan. As these are separate medals, they are not included in this list.

Recipients by nationality

NameNationalityDate of actionConflictUnitPlace of actionNotes
Hutcheson, BellendenBellenden HutchesonAmerican1918First World War 75th Bn Canadian Expeditionary ForceDrocourt-Quéant Support Line, France[4]
Metcalf, WilliamWilliam MetcalfAmerican1918First World WarCanadian Expeditionary ForceArras, France[4]
Mullin, GeorgeGeorge MullinAmerican1917First World WarCanadian Expeditionary ForcePasschendaele, Belgium[4]
Seeley, WilliamWilliam SeeleyAmerican1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiHMS EuryalusShimonoseki, Japan
Zengel, RaphaelRaphael ZengelAmerican1918First World WarCanadian Expeditionary ForceWarvillers, France[5]
List of 91 Australian recipients
Carton de Wiart, AdrianAdrian Carton de WiartBelgian1916First World War4th Dragoon GuardsLa Boiselle, France
Hodge, SamuelSamuel HodgeBritish Virgin Islander1866Gambia Campaign4th West India RegimentTubabecelong, Gambia
List of 96 Canadian recipients
Bruce, WilliamWilliam BruceChannel Islander1914First World War59th Scinde RiflesGivenchy, France
Halliday, LewisLewis HallidayChannel Islander1900Boxer RisingRoyal Marine Light InfantryPeking, China
Home, DuncanDuncan HomeChannel Islander1857Indian MutinyBengal Sappers and MinersDelhi, India
Ingouville, GeorgeGeorge IngouvilleChannel Islander1855Crimean WarHMS ArrogantVyborg, Russia
Le Patourel, HerbertHerbert Le PatourelChannel Islander1942Second World WarHampshire RegimentTebourba, Tunisia
Le Quesne, FerdinandFerdinand Le QuesneChannel Islander1889British rule in BurmaRoyal Army Medical CorpsVoklaak, Burma
McCrea, JohnJohn McCreaChannel Islander1881Basuto Gun War1st Cape Mounted YeomanryTweefontein, South Africa
McReady-Diarmid, AllastairAllastair McReady-DiarmidChannel Islander1917First World WarDuke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)Moeuvres, France
Nurse, GeorgeGeorge NurseChannel Islander1899Second Boer WarRoyal Field ArtilleryColenso, South Africa
Sartorious, EustonEuston SartoriousChannel Islander1859Second Afghan War59th Regiment of FootShahjui, Afghanistan
Sartorious, ReginaldReginald SartoriousChannel Islander1874First Ashanti Expedition6th Bengal CavalryObugu, Ashanti
Dinesen, ThomasThomas DinesenDanish1918First World War42nd Bn CEF Canadian Expeditionary ForceParvillers, France
Hansen, PercyPercy HansenDanish1915First World War6th Lincolnshire RegimentGallipoli, Turkey
Lassen, AndersAnders LassenDanish1945*Second World WarSpecial Boat ServiceComacchio, Italy
List of 600+ English recipients
(may be incomplete)
Sukanaivalu, SefanaiaSefanaia SukanaivaluFijian1944*Second World WarFiji Infantry RegimentMawaraka, Bougainville Island
Wooden, CharlesCharles WoodenGerman1854Crimean War17th LancersBalaklava, Crimea
Beharry, JohnsonJohnson BeharryGrenadian2004Iraq WarPrincess of Wales's Royal Regiment Amarah, Iraq
Johnstone, WilliamWilliam JohnstoneHanoverian1854Crimean WarHMS Arrogant, RN Åland Islands, Finland[6]
Bhagat, PremindraPremindra BhagatBritish Indian1941Second World WarCorps of Indian EngineersGallabat, Abyssinia
Ghadge, YeshwantYeshwant GhadgeBritish Indian1944*Second World WarMaratha Light InfantryUpper Tiber Valley, Italy
Hafiz, AbdulAbdul HafizBritish Indian1944*Second World War9th Jat RegimentImphal, India
Jadav, NamdeoNamdeo JadavBritish Indian1945Second World War5th Maratha Light InfantrySenio River, Italy
Judge, KaramjeetKaramjeet JudgeBritish Indian1945*Second World War4/15th Punjab RegimentMeiktila, Burma
LalaBritish Indian1916First World War41st DograsEl Orah, Mesopotamia
Negi, DarwanDarwan NegiBritish Indian1914First World War39th Garhwal RiflesFestubert, France
Negi, Gabar SinghGabar Singh NegiBritish Indian1915*First World War39th Garhwal RiflesNeuve Chapelle, France
Ram, BhandariBhandari RamBritish Indian1944Second World WarGarhwal RiflesArakan State, Burma
Ram, ChheluChhelu RamBritish Indian1943*Second World War6th Rajputana Rifles Djebel Garci, Tunisia
Ram, KamalKamal RamBritish Indian1944Second World War8th Punjab RegimentRiver Gari, Italy
Ram, RichhpalRichhpal RamBritish Indian1941*Second World War6th Rajputana RiflesKeren, Eritrea
Singh, BadluBadlu SinghBritish Indian1918*First World War14th Murray's Jat LancersRiver Jordan, Palestine
Singh, ChattaChatta SinghBritish Indian1916First World WarGarhwal RiflesBattle of the Wadi, Mesopotamia
Singh, GianGian SinghBritish Indian1945Second World War15th Punjab RegimentMyingyan, Burma
Singh, GobindGobind SinghBritish Indian1917First World WarGarhwal RiflesPezières, France[7]
Singh, IsharIshar SinghBritish Indian1921Waziristan Campaign28th Punjab RegimentHaidari Kach, India
Singh, NandNand SinghBritish Indian1944Second World War1/11th Garhwal RiflesMaungdawButhidaung Road, Burma
Singh, ParkashParkash SinghBritish Indian1943Second World War8th Punjab RegimentDonbaik, Burma
Singh, PrakashPrakash SinghBritish Indian1945*Second World War13th Frontier Force RiflesKanlan Ywathit, Burma
Singh, RamRam SinghBritish Indian1944*Second World WarGarhwal RiflesKennedy Peak, Burma
Dast, MirMir DastBritish Indian1915First World War55th Coke's RiflesWieltje, Belgium
Din, FazalFazal DinBritish Indian1945Second World War10th Baluch RegimentMeiktila, Burma
Haidar, AliAli HaidarBritish Indian1945Second World War13th Frontier Force RiflesFusignano, Italy
Khan, KhudadadKhudadad KhanBritish Indian1914First World War129th Duke of Connaught's Own BaluchisHollebeke, Belgium
Khan, ShahamadShahamad KhanBritish Indian1916First World War89th Punjab RegimentBeit Ayeesa, Mesopotamia
Shah, SherSher ShahBritish Indian1945*Second World War16th Punjab RegimentKyeyebyin, Burma
Singh, UmraoUmrao SinghBritish Indian1944Second World WarRoyal Indian ArtilleryKaladan Valley, Burma
List of 195 Irish recipients
Gordon, WilliamWilliam GordonJamaican1892Second Gambian CampaignWest India RegimentToniataba, Gambia
Leakey, NigelNigel Leakey Kenyan 1941* Second World War King's African Rifles

Colito, Abyssinia

Cain, Robert HenryRobert Henry CainManx1944Second World War2nd Battalion, South Staffordshire RegimentArnhem, Netherlands[8]
Ghale, GajeGaje GhaleNepalese1943Second World War5th Royal Gurkha RiflesChin Hills, Burma
Gurung, BhanbhagtaBhanbhagta GurungNepalese1945Second World War2nd Gurkha RiflesTamandu, Burma
Gurung, LachhimanLachhiman GurungNepalese1945Second World War8th Gurkha RiflesTaungdaw, Burma
Gurung, ThamanThaman GurungNepalese1944*Second World War5th Royal Gurkha RiflesMonte San Bartolo, Italy
Lama, GanjuGanju LamaNepalese1944Second World War7th Gurkha RiflesNingthoukhong, Burma
Limbu, RambahadurRambahadur LimbuNepalese1965Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation10th Gurkha RiflesSarawak, Borneo
Pun, TulbahadurTulbahadur PunNepalese1944Second World War6th Gurkha RiflesMogaung, Burma
Rai, AgansingAgansing RaiNepalese1944Second World War5th Royal Gurkha RiflesBishenpur, Burma
Rana, KaranbahadurKaranbahadur RanaNepalese1918First World War3rd Gurkha RiflesEl Kefr, Egypt
Thapa, KulbirKulbir ThapaNepalese1915First World War3rd Gurkha RiflesFauquissart, France
Thapa, NetrabahadurNetrabahadur ThapaNepalese1944*Second World War5th Royal Gurkha RiflesBishenpur, Burma
Thapa, SherSher ThapaNepalese1944*Second World War9th Gurkha RiflesSan Marino, Italy
Andrew, LeslieLeslie AndrewNew Zealander1917First World WarWellington Infantry RegimentLa Basse Ville, Belgium
Bassett, CyrilCyril BassettNew Zealander1915First World WarNew Zealand Divisional Signal CompanyGallipoli, Turkey
Brown, DonaldDonald BrownNew Zealander1916First World WarOtago Infantry RegimentHigh Wood, France[9]
Crichton, JamesJames CrichtonNew Zealander1918First World WarAuckland Infantry RegimentCrèvecœur, France
D'arcy, CecilCecil D'arcyNew Zealander1879Anglo-Zulu WarFrontier Light HorseUlundi, South Africa
Elliott, KeithKeith ElliottNew Zealander1942Second World War22nd, 2nd New Zealand DivisionRuweisat, Egypt
Forsyth, SamuelSamuel ForsythNew Zealander1918*First World WarRoyal New Zealand EngineersGrévillers, France
Freyberg, BernardBernard FreybergNew Zealander1916First World War63rd (Royal Naval) DivisionBeaucourt sur Ancre, France
Frickleton, SamuelSamuel FrickletonNew Zealander1917First World WarNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeMessines, Belgium
Grant, JohnJohn GrantNew Zealander1918First World WarWellington Infantry RegimentBancourt, France
Hardham, WilliamWilliam HardhamNew Zealander1901Second Boer War4th New Zealand ContingentNaauwpoort, South Africa
Heaphy, CharlesCharles HeaphyNew Zealander1864New Zealand WarsAuckland MilitiaMangapiko River, New Zealand
Hinton, JohnJohn HintonNew Zealander1941Second World War20th, 2nd New Zealand DivisionKalamai, Greece
Hulme, CliveClive HulmeNew Zealander1941Second World War23rd, 2nd New Zealand DivisionCrete, Greece
Judson, ReginaldReginald JudsonNew Zealander1918First World WarAuckland Infantry RegimentBapaume, France
Laurent, HarryHarry LaurentNew Zealander1918First World WarNew Zealand Rifle BrigadeGouzeaucourt Wood, France
Ngarimu, Moana-Nui-a-KiwaMoana-Nui-a-Kiwa NgarimuNew Zealander1943*Second World War28th, 2nd New Zealand DivisionTebaga Gap, Tunisia
Nicholas, HenryHenry NicholasNew Zealander1917First World WarCanterbury Infantry RegimentPolderhoek, Belgium
Sanders, WilliamWilliam SandersNew Zealander1917*First World WarHMS Prize (HMS Prize)Atlantic
Shout, AlfredAlfred ShoutNew Zealander1915*First World WarFirst Australian Imperial ForceGallipoli
Travis, RichardRichard TravisNew Zealander1918*First World WarOtago Infantry RegimentRossignol Wood, France
Trent, LeonardLeonard TrentNew Zealander1943Second World WarNo. 487 Squadron RNZAFAmsterdam, Netherlands
Apiata, WillieWillie ApiataNew Zealander2004Afghanistan WarNew Zealand Special Air ServiceAfghanistan, Afghanistan
Trigg, LloydLloyd TriggNew Zealander1943*Second World WarNo. 200 Squadron RAF Atlantic
Upham, CharlesCharles UphamNew Zealander1941
1942
Second World War20th, 2nd New Zealand DivisionCrete, Greece, (1941),
Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt (1942)
[10]
Ward, JamesJames WardNew Zealander1941*Second World WarNo. 75 Squadron RNZAF Munster, Germany
Croak, JohnJohn CroakNewfoundlander1918*First World War13th Battalion, CEFAmiens, France[11]
Ricketts, ThomasThomas RickettsNewfoundlander1918First World WarRoyal Newfoundland RegimentLedeghem, Belgium[11]
Baxter, FrankFrank BaxterRhodesian1896*Matabeleland RebellionBulawayo Field ForceUmguza, Rhodesia
Booth, FrederickFrederick BoothRhodesian1917First World WarBritish South Africa PoliceJohannesburg, German East Africa[12]
Henderson, HerbertHerbert HendersonRhodesian1897Matabeleland RebellionBulawayo Field ForceBulawayo, Rhodesia
List of 164 Scottish recipients
Albrecht, HermanHerman AlbrechtSouth African1900*Second Boer WarImperial Light HorseLadysmith, South Africa
Beauchamp-Proctor, AndrewAndrew Beauchamp-ProctorSouth African1918First World WarNo. 84 Squadron RFCWestern Front, France
Clements, JohnJohn ClementsSouth African1901Second Boer WarRimington's GuidesStrijdenburg, South Africa
Crowe, JosephJoseph CroweSouth African1857Indian Mutiny78th Regiment of FootBoursekee Chowkee, India
D'arcy, CecilCecil D'arcySouth African1879Zulu WarFrontier Light HorseUlundi, South Africa
Faulds, WilliamWilliam FauldsSouth African1916First World War1st South African InfantryDelville Wood, France
Gristock, GeorgeGeorge GristockSouth African1940*Second World WarRoyal Norfolk RegimentTournai, Belgium
Hartley, EdmundEdmund HartleySouth African1879Zulu WarCape Mounted RiflemenMorosi's Mountain, South Africa
Hayward, ReginaldReginald HaywardSouth African1918First World WarWiltshire RegimentFremicourt, France
Hewitt, WilliamWilliam HewittSouth African1917First World War2nd South African Light InfantryYpres, Belgium
Martineau, HoraceHorace MartineauSouth African1899Second Boer WarProtectorate RegimentMafeking, South Africa
McCrea, JohnJohn McCreaSouth African1881First Boer War1st Cape Mounted YeomanryTweefontein, South Africa
Mullins, CharlesCharles MullinsSouth African1899Second Boer WarImperial Light HorseElandslaagte, South Africa
Nesbitt, RandolphRandolph NesbittSouth African1896Mashona RebellionMashonaland Mounted PoliceSalisbury, Rhodesia
Nettleton, JohnJohn NettletonSouth African1942Second World WarNo. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAFAugsburg, Germany
Norton, GerardGerard NortonSouth African1944Second World WarKaffrarian RiflesMonte Gidolfo, Italy
Reid, OswaldOswald ReidSouth African1917First World WarKing's (Liverpool) RegimentDialah River, Mesopotamia
Robertson, ClementClement RobertsonSouth African1917First World WarQueen's Royal RegimentZonnebeke, Belgium
Sherwood-Kelly, JohnJohn Sherwood-KellySouth African1917First World WarNorfolk RegimentMarcoing, France[13]
Smythe, QuentinQuentin SmytheSouth African1942Second World WarNatal CarbineersAlem Hamza, Egypt
Swales, EdwinEdwin SwalesSouth African1945Second World WarSouth African Air ForcePforzheim, Germany
Horsfall, BasilBasil HorsfallSri Lankan (Ceylonese)1918*First World WarEast Lancashire RegimentAblainzevelle, France
Brown, PeterPeter BrownSwedish1879Basuto Gun WarMounted RiflemenMorosi's Mountain, South Africa
Schiess, ChristianChristian SchiessSwiss1879Anglo-Zulu WarNatal Native ContingentRorke's Drift, South Africa
Konowal, FilipFilip KonowalUkrainian1917First World War47th (British Columbia) Lens, France[4]
List of 58 uncertain nationality recipients
Barter, FrederickFrederick BarterWelsh1915First World WarRoyal Welch FusiliersFestubert, France
Beattie, StephenStephen BeattieWelsh1942Second World WarHMS CampbeltownSaint-Nazaire, France
Bye, RobertRobert ByeWelsh1917First World WarWelsh GuardsYser Canal, Belgium
Chapman, EdwardEdward ChapmanWelsh1945Second World WarMonmouthshire RegimentDortmund-Ems Canal, Germany
Davies, JamesJames DaviesWelsh1917*First World WarRoyal Welch FusiliersPolygon Wood, Belgium
Evans, LewisLewis EvansWelsh1917First World WarBlack Watch (Royal Highlanders)Zonnebeke, Belgium
Fox-Russell, JohnJohn Fox-RussellWelsh1917*First World WarRoyal Army Medical CorpsTel-el-Khuweilfeh, Palestine
Fuller, WilliamWilliam FullerWelsh1914First World WarWelch RegimentChivy-sur-Aisne, France
Jones, RobertRobert JonesWelsh1879Zulu War24th Regiment of FootRorke's Drift, South Africa
Lewis, HubertHubert LewisWelsh1916First World WarWelch RegimentMacukovo, Greece
Linton, JohnJohn LintonWelsh1943*Second World WarHMS TurbulentAt sea
Monaghan, ThomasThomas MonaghanWelsh1858Indian Mutiny2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)Jamo, India
Rees, IvorIvor ReesWelsh1917First World WarSouth Wales BorderersPilkem, Belgium
Rees, LionelLionel ReesWelsh1916First World WarRoyal Flying CorpsDouble Crassieurs, France
Rowlands, HughHugh RowlandsWelsh1854Crimean War41st (Welsh) Regiment of FootBattle of Inkerman, Crimea
Shields, RobertRobert ShieldsWelsh1855Crimean War23rd RegimentSebastopol, Crimea
Thomas, JacobJacob ThomasWelsh1857Indian MutinyBengal ArtilleryLucknow, India
Wain, RichardRichard WainWelsh1917*First World War"A" Battalion, Tank CorpsCambrai/Marcoing, France
Warburton-Lee, BernardBernard Warburton-LeeWelsh1940*Second World War British 2nd Destroyer FlotillaNarvik, Norway[14]
Waring, WilliamWilliam WaringWelsh1918*First World WarRoyal Welch FusiliersRonssoy, France
Watkins, TaskerTasker WatkinsWelsh1944Second World WarWelch RegimentBarfour, France
Weale, HenryHenry WealeWelsh1918First World WarRoyal Welch FusiliersBazentin-le-Grand, France
Williams, JackJack WilliamsWelsh1918First World WarSouth Wales BorderersVillers Outreaux, France
Williams, JohnJohn WilliamsWelsh1879Zulu War24th Regiment of FootRorke's Drift, South Africa
Williams, WilliamWilliam WilliamsWelsh1917First World WarHMS Pargust (HMS Pargust)Atlantic, near France[15]

Notes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 27986. p. 325. 15 January 1907. Retrieved 28 August 2008.
  2. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.6890
  3. The London Gazette: no. 31946. p. 6702. 18 June 1920. Retrieved 19 September 2008.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Also considered Canadian recipient.
    Ricketts, Bruce. "American Victoria Cross recipients". Mysteries of Canada. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  5. Zengel was American born, considered Canadian.
    Bishop, Arthur (September 2005). "On The Offensive In 1918". Legionmagazine. Archived from the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  6. "Biography: John Bythesea VC". Royal Naval Museum. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
  7. "SIXTH SUPPLEMENT TO The London Gazette Of TUESDAY, the 8th of JANUARY, 1918". The London Gazette (30471): 725. 11 January 1918.
  8. "Second report of the Tynwald Honours Committee 2004/2005". June 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-06-26. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
  9. Brown died in action three weeks after the action that led to his award.
    Lintock, A.H. "Awards to New Zealand Servicemen". An Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966. newzealand.govt.nz. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  10. Charles Upham is one of only three people to have won the Victoria Cross twice.
    Lintock, A.H. "Awards to New Zealand Servicemen". An Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 1966. newzealand.govt.nz. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  11. 1 2 Newfoundlander recipients of the Victoria Cross are sometimes erroneously included with Canadian awards, as Newfoundland became part of Canada in 1949.
    "Memorial to fallen Newfoundland soldiers declared National Historic Site". Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. 1997-04-09. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  12. Born in London
  13. Commanding officer of 1st Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at time
  14. and Captain of HMS Hardy
  15. Besly, Edward (2004-02-03). "A 'mystery' Victoria Cross and a stuffed parrot". National Museums & Galleries of Wales. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007.

References

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