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List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy

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The Victoria Cross in its pre-1918 Naval form, with a blue ribbon

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a naval and 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 postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not "in the face of the enemy." The VC has been awarded on 1356 occasions to 1353 individual recipients.

The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins. The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. 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 officers and men. 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.

Within this list, the date of action listed is the year in which the action took place for which the VC was awarded. The most naval Victoria Crosses awarded in a single conflict were for the First World War, followed by the Second World War and then the Crimean War. There have been a total of 117 recipients of the Victoria Cross who served with the Royal Navy. Sixty-eight awards were to ship-based Royal Navy personnel, with 49 given to those who served with other organisations within the British naval service, such as the Royal Naval Brigade and the Royal Marines. The Royal Marines have received 10 Victoria Crosses, the Royal Naval Reserve and Volunteer Reserve being awarded 22 VCs. Richard Bell-Davies of the Royal Naval Air Service also received an award. Note: this list does not include naval awards of the VC to persons serving in navies other than the British, i.e. Lieut. R.H. ("Hammy") Gray, VC, DSC, Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

Recipients

  This along with the * indicates that the Victoria Cross was awarded posthumously

Name Vessel Date of action Conflict Place of action Notes
Thomas Hunter 43 Commando 1945* Second World War Comacchio, Italy
Eugene Esmonde Fleet Air Arm
No. 825 Squadron		 1942* Second World War Straits of Dover, England
Israel Harding HMS Alexandria 1882 Occupation of Egypt Alexandria, Egypt
John Robarts HMS Ardent 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
John Bythesea HMS Arrogant 1854 Crimean War Åland, Finland
George Ingouville HMS Arrogant 1855 Crimean War Fort of Viborg, Finland
William Johnstone HMS Arrogant 1854 Crimean War Åland, Finland
Norman Holbrook HMS B11 1914 First World War Dardanelles, Turkey
William Hewett HMS Beagle 1854 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Joseph Trewavas HMS Beagle 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
Richard Sandford HMS C3 1918 First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
John Carless HMS Caledon 1917* First World War Battle of Heligoland, Germany
Stephen Beattie HMS Campbeltown 1942 Second World War St. Nazaire, France
Robert Ryder HMS Campbeltown 1942 Second World War St. Nazaire, France
Jack Cornwell HMS Chester 1916* First World War Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Augustus Agar HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 1919 Baltic Campaign Kronstadt, Russia
Claude Dobson HM Coastal Motor Boat 31 1919 Baltic Campaign Kronstadt, Russia
Gordon Steele HM Coastal Motor Boat 88 1919 Baltic Campaign Kronstadt, Russia
Edgar Cookson HMS Comet 1915* First World War Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Alfred Sephton HMS Coventry 1941* Second World War Crete, Mediterranean
Edward Daniel HMS Diamond 1854 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Ernest Pitcher HMS Dunraven 1917 First World War Bay of Biscay, Atlantic
Charles Bonner HMS Dunraven 1917 First World War Bay of Biscay, Atlantic
Edward Boyle HMS E14 1915 First World War Dardanelles, Turkey
Geoffrey White HMS E14 1918* First World War Dardanelles, Turkey
Duncan Boyes HMS Euryalus 1864 Bombardment of Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Japan
Thomas Pride HMS Euryalus 1864 Bombardment of Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Japan
William Seeley HMS Euryalus 1864 Bombardment of Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Japan
Gordon Campbell HMS Farnborough 1917 First World War Atlantic Ocean
Jack Mantle HMS Foylebank 1940* Second World War Portland, England
Gerald Roope HMS Glowworm 1940* Second World War Vestfjord, Norway
Henry Ritchie HMS Goliath 1914 First World War Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika
Bernard Warburton-Lee HMS Hardy 1940* Second World War Narvik, Norway
Samuel Mitchell HMS Harrier 1864 New Zealand Wars Te Papa, New Zealand
William Maillard HMS Hazard 1898 Occupation of Crete Crete, Greece
Charles Lucas HMS Hecla 1854 Crimean War Åland, Finland
Arthur Wilson HMS Hecla 1884 Mahdist War Battles of El Teb, Sudan
George Bradford HMS Iris II 1918* First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Edward Fegen HMS Jervis Bay 1940* Second World War Atlantic Ocean
Humphrey Firman SS Julnar 1916* First World War Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Cecil Buckley HMS Miranda 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
Henry Cooper HMS Miranda 1855 Crimean War Taganrog, Crimea
William Savage HM Motor Gun Boat 314 1942* Second World War St. Nazaire, France
Edward Bingham HMS Nestor 1916 First World War Battle of Jutland, Denmark
William Odgers HMS Niger 1860 New Zealand Wars Omata, New Zealand
Robert Sherbrooke HMS Onslow 1942 Second World War North Cape, Norway
George Day HMS Recruit 1855 Crimean War Genitichi, Crimea
Wilfred Malleson SS River Clyde 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Edward Unwin SS River Clyde 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William Williams SS River Clyde 1915* First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William Hall HMS Shannon/Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Siege of Lucknow, India
George Hinckley HMS Sphinx 1862 Taiping Rebellion Fung Wha, China
Loftus Jones HMS Shark 1916* First World War Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Hugh Burgoyne HMS Swallow 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
Thomas Gould HMS Thrasher 1942 Second World War Crete, Mediterranean
Peter Roberts HMS Thrasher 1942 Second World War Crete, Mediterranean
Anthony Miers HMS Torbay 1942 Second World War Corfu, Greece
John Linton HMS Turbulent 1943* Second World War Mediterranean
Malcolm Wanklyn HMS Upholder 1941* Second World War Sicily, Mediterranean
Eric Robinson HMS Vengeance 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Alfred Carpenter HMS Vindictive 1918 First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Victor Crutchley HMS Vindictive 1918 First World War Ostend, Belgium
Arthur Harrison HMS Vindictive 1918* First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Albert McKenzie HMS Vindictive 1918 First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Frederick Peters HMS Walney 1942 Second World War Oran, Algeria
John Commerell HMS Weser 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
William Rickard HMS Weser 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
Joseph Kellaway HMS Wrangler 1855 Crimean War Sea of Azov, Crimea
James Magennis HMS XE3 1945 Second World War Johore Straits, Singapore
Basil Place HMS X7 1943 Second World War Kåfjord, Norway
Henry Curtis Naval Brigade 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
James Gorman Naval Brigade 1854 Crimean War Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Basil Guy Naval Brigade 1900 Boxer Rebellion Tientsin, China
John Harrison Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Siege of Lucknow, India
William Peel Naval Brigade 1854 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Henry Raby Naval Brigade 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas Reeves Naval Brigade 1854 Crimean War Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Edward Robinson Naval Brigade 1858 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Siege of Lucknow, India
Nowell Salmon Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Siege of Lucknow, India
Mark Scholefield Naval Brigade 1854 Crimean War Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
John Sheppard Naval Brigade 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
John Sullivan Naval Brigade 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
John Taylor Naval Brigade 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Thomas Young Naval Brigade 1857 Indian Rebellion of 1857 Siege of Lucknow, India
Richard Bell-Davies No. 3 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service		 1915 First World War Ferrijik Junction, Bulgaria
Reginald Warneford No. 1 Squadron
Royal Naval Air Service		 1915 First World War Ghent, Belgium
George Dowell Royal Marine Artillery 1855 Crimean War Fort of Viborg, Gulf of Finland
Norman Finch Royal Marine Artillery 1918 First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Frederick Lumsden Royal Marine Artillery 1917 First World War Francilly, France
Thomas Wilkinson Royal Marine Artillery 1855 Crimean War Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Edward Bamford Royal Marine Light Infantry 1918 First World War Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Lewis Halliday Royal Marine Light Infantry 1900 Boxer Rebellion Peking, China
Francis Harvey Royal Marine Light Infantry 1916* First World War Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Walter Parker Royal Marine Light Infantry 1915 First World War Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey
John Prettyjohns Royal Marine Light Infantry 1854 Crimean War Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Daniel Beak Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1918 First World War Logeast Wood, France
Rowland Louis Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1918 First World War Ostend, Belgium
Charles Cowley Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1916* First World War Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Percy Dean Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1918 First World War Zeebrugge, Belgium
Geoffrey Drummond Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1918 First World War Ostend, Belgium
Bernard Freyberg Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1916 First World War Battle of the Ancre, France
George Prowse Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1918 First World War Pronville, France
Arthur Tisdall Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Harold Auten Royal Naval Reserve 1918 First World War English Channel, England
Charles Bonner Royal Naval Reserve 1917 First World War Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean
Donald Cameron Royal Naval Reserve 1943 Second World War Kåfjord, Norway
Thomas Crisp Royal Naval Reserve 1917* First World War North Sea
George Drewry Royal Naval Reserve 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Ian Fraser Royal Naval Reserve 1945 Second World War Johore Straits, Singapore
Frederick Parslow Royal Naval Reserve 1915* First World War Atlantic Ocean
George Samson Royal Naval Reserve 1915 First World War Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
William Sanders Royal Naval Reserve 1917* First World War Atlantic Ocean
Archibald Smith Royal Naval Reserve 1917* First World War Atlantic Ocean
Richard Stannard Royal Naval Reserve 1940 Second World War Namsos, Norway
Ronald Stuart Royal Naval Reserve 1917 First World War Atlantic Ocean
Joseph Watt Royal Naval Reserve 1917 First World War Strait of Otranto, Italy
Thomas Wilkinson Royal Naval Reserve 1942* Second World War Java Sea, Malaya
William Williams Royal Naval Reserve 1917 First World War Atlantic Ocean

Notes

  1. "The world's most exclusive club". Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  2. Davies, Catronia (28 December 2005). "Author explodes myth of the gunmetal VC". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2007.
  3. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  4. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
  5. "No. 31946". The London Gazette. 18 June 1920. p. 6702.
  6. VC forfeited for desertion in 1861. "Edward St John DANIEL VC". Michael Daniels pHd. 1 June 2001. Archived from the original on 12 May 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  7. VC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224–227
  8. VC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224–227
  9. First American recipient. Ricketts, Bruce. "American Victoria Cross recipients". Mysteries of Canada. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  10. Only naval VC awarded for action on British mainland. "Jack Mantle VC". victoriacross.org. 13 June 2007. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  11. Only person to be nominated by enemy. "Foylebank". Heritage Coast. Retrieved 7 March 2008.
  12. NZ recipient. Bashton, NS. "Royal Naval Division Personnel". royalnavaldivision.info. Retrieved 25 April 2015.

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