Jump to content

Thomas Byrne (VC): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 51°17′09″N 1°03′51″E / 51.285715°N 1.064139°E / 51.285715; 1.064139
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
No edit summary
Line 97: Line 97:
[[Category:1866 births]]
[[Category:1866 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish people]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish men]]
[[Category:Irish soldiers in the British Army]]
[[Category:Irish soldiers in the British Army]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Mahdist War]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Mahdist War]]
Line 103: Line 103:
[[Category:21st Lancers soldiers]]
[[Category:21st Lancers soldiers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War]]
[[Category:People from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)]]

Revision as of 20:12, 14 December 2021

Thomas Byrne

BornDecember 1866
Dublin, Ireland
Died15 March 1944(1944-03-15) (aged 77)
Canterbury, England
Buried
Canterbury City Cemetery
51°17′09″N 1°03′51″E / 51.285715°N 1.064139°E / 51.285715; 1.064139
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1887 - 1909
RankPrivate
Battles / wars
AwardsVictoria Cross

Thomas Byrne, VC (December 1866 Dublin – 15 March 1944) was an Irish British Army soldier. He was the recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Deed

He was about 30 years old, and a private in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's), British Army during the Mahdist War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 2 September 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, Private Byrne turned back in the middle of the charge of the 21st Lancers and went to the assistance of a lieutenant of the Royal Horse Guards who was wounded, dismounted, disarmed and being attacked by several Dervishes. Private Byrne already wounded, attacked these Dervishes, received a second severe wound and by his gallant conduct enabled the officer to escape.[1]

Honours




Ribbon Description Notes
Victoria Cross (VC)
  • 2 September 1898.
Queen's Sudan Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
  • With Clasp "Transvaal"
  • With Clasp "Orange Free State"
  • With Clasp "Cape Colony"
King George VI Coronation Medal
  • 12 May 1937.
  • All Living VC Recipients Received this Medal.
Army Meritorious Service Medal
Khedive's Sudan Medal
  • His Medals were sold at Auction for £40,000 at David Lay Auctioneers in Penzance, Cornwall on 25 August 2015.[2]


Later life

Byrne's grave (Section MJ Grave 22) at Canterbury City Cemetery, England, in 2017

He later served in the Second Boer War.[3] He died at Canterbury, Kent, on 15 March 1944, and is buried at the local Canterbury City Cemetery.

References

  1. ^ "No. 27490". The London Gazette. 31 October 1902. p. 6897.
  2. ^ Gorman, Claire (26 August 2015). "Medals of 'Churchill's hero' sell for £40,000". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
  3. ^ Canterbury Council[permanent dead link]