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Post by groundhog on Sept 19, 2012 23:49:16 GMT
Robert Hanna
Hill 70, France
21st August 1917 Robert Hanna was born in Kilkeel, Co. Down on 6th August 1887. Prior to WorldWar 1 he emigrated to Canada where he worked as a logger in British Colombia. He joined the 29th Battalion, Canadian Infantry in Vancouver on 9th November 1914 aged 27. By August 1917 he was a Company Sergeant Major in 29th Bn, which was engaged, as part of the Canadian Corps, in the Battle for Hill 70 near Lens, France. This battle was a diversion intended to draw German troops away from Ypres where the Battle of Passchendaele was ongoing. On August 21st, CSM Hanna’s company was met by a heavily fortified German strongpoint on Hill 70. Three attacks on the position failed and, with all the officers dead or wounded, command fell to CSM Hanna. He collected a group of men and led an attack on the strongpoint which was successful. Hanna was later commissioned a Lieutenant in the 29th Bn. He died in Canada on June 15th 1967 and is buried in the Masonic Cemetery, Burnaby, British Columbia.
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Post by groundhog on Sept 30, 2012 21:10:23 GMT
[/img][/center] James Crichton was born in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim on 15th July 1879. He emigrated to New Zealand and on the outbreak of World War 1 he joined the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. On 30th September 1918 he won a Victoria Cross for his actions at Crèvecœur, France. Wounded in the foot, he stayed with his unit during difficult canal and river obstacles. When his platoon was forced back by a counterattack he was sent with a message, swimming a river and crossing an area swept by machine-gun fire on the way. Subsequently he rejoined his platoon and later, on his own initiative removed the charges from a mined bridge. Crichton was later promoted to Sergeant and survived the war. He died in Takapuna, New Zealand, on 25th September 1961 and is buried in the Soldier’s Cemetery, Waikumete.
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Post by groundhog on Oct 1, 2012 23:00:26 GMT
Denis Dynon
Ghota Behar, India
2nd October 1857 [/b] Denis Dynon was born in Kilmannon, Co. Laois in September 1822. He enlisted in the 44th Foot and then transferred to the 53rd with whom he served in India. He fought in the First and Second Sikh Wars in the 1840s and later on in the Indian Mutiny. By October 1857 he was a Sergeant 53rd at Ghota Behar, India. On that date he and Lt Daunt charged two guns manned by mutineers, which were causing heavy casualties by firing grapeshot. The second gun they captured armed only with pistols. His VC was gazetted on 25th February 1862. Dynon’s service in India adversely affected his health and he was forced to leave the army. He was admitted to the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham in Dublin where he died on 16th February 1863. His burial place is unknown but his VC is on display in the Imperial War Museum, London.
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Post by groundhog on Oct 1, 2012 23:01:16 GMT
Dudley Stagpoole
Pontoko, New Zealand
2nd October 1857 [/b] Dudley Stagpoole was born in Killanin, Co. Galway in 1838. He enlisted in the 57th Foot on 15th May 1854 and served as a Drummer. He fought in the Crimean War and then went to New Zealand with the regiment in 1861. He also served in India and Malta. Stagpoole won his VC on 2nd October 1863 at Allan's Hill near Pontoko when he and Ensign John Down rescued a wounded comrade under heavy fire from the Maoris. The week before Stagpoole had won a Distinguished Conduct Medal at Kaipakopako when he rescued two wounded men though wounded himself. Dudley served in New Zealand until 1866 and then returned to England. He left the army in May 1877 and worked in the Woolwich Arsenal. He married three times and had seven children. One of his sons died in Egypt in 1898. Dudley Stagpoole died on 1st August 1911 in Ware, Hertfordshire and is buried in Hendon Park Cemetery, London. His medals are held by Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment & Queen's Regiment Museum, Canterbury. Photo Credit; www.stagpoole.net.nz/
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Post by groundhog on Oct 20, 2012 23:19:46 GMT
Robert Johnston
Elandslaagte, South Africa
21st October 1899 Robert Johnston was born in Co. Donegal on the 13th August 1872. He served with the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from 1890 to 1894. Johnston played Rugby for Ireland and went on the Lions Tour to South Africa in 1896, staying on after the tour ended. When the Boer War broke out he joined the Imperial Light Horse. He won his VC at the Battle of Elandslaagte on 21st October 1899. When his unit was being driven back by the Boers he and another officer Captain Charles Mullins rallied their men and continued the attack. Johnston served in the Prison Service in Ireland and as a Resident Magistrate in Kilkenny. He died on 24th March 1950 and is buried in St. Mary’s Churchyard, Inistioge, Co. Kilkenny. He is one of three VC winners who played Rugby for Wanderers RFC and Ireland, the others being Tom Crean and Frederick Harvey.
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Post by groundhog on Oct 22, 2012 23:06:57 GMT
William Kenny
Ypres, Belgium
23rd October 1914 William Kenny was born in Drogheda on 24th August 1880. He served in South Africa during the Boer War and in India. In 1914 he was a Drummer in the Gordon Highlanders. On 23rd October 1914 at Ypres he rescued wounded men on five occasions under very heavy fire. Twice previously he had saved machine-guns by carrying them out of action, and on numerous occasions he conveyed urgent messages under very dangerous circumstances over fire-swept ground. Kenny rose to the rank of Drum Major and also earned a Military Medal and the Russian Order of St. George. He died in London on 10th January 1936 and is buried in Brookwood Cemetery. His medals are in the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Scotland.
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Post by groundhog on Oct 30, 2012 0:49:58 GMT
James Brooke
Gheluvelt, Belgium
29th October 1914 James Brooke was born in Scotland in 1884. His family came from Co. Fermanagh. On 29th October 1914 he was a Lieutenant in 2nd Bn, Gordon Highlanders during the First Battle of Ypres. He led two attacks on trenches recently captured by the Germans under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire and prevented a break- through of the British line. While bringing up support troops Lt Brooke was killed in action. He is buried in Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Zonnebeke and his VC is in the Gordon Highlanders Museum.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 14, 2012 0:00:14 GMT
Lucknow, India
14th-22nd November 1857
Edward Jennings Jennings was born in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo about 1820. In 1857 he was serving in the Bengal Artillery during the Indian Mutiny. He was elected to receive the VC for gallantry at the relief of Lucknow by the men of his unit. Jennings had previously fought in the Sikh Wars. He ended his life as a road sweeper in North Shields, England where he died on 10th May 1889. Before his death he sold his VC and it is now on display at the Royal Artillery Museum. www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/bbjennin.htm[/img] A Bengal Artilleryman of the period[/center] Thomas Laughnan was born in Gort, County Galway in August 1824. Like Jennings he was a Bengal Artilleryman and he was also elected to receive the VC for gallantry at the relief of Lucknow by the men of his unit. Laughnan died in Galway on 23rd July 1864. His burial place is unknown. His medal is held by the Royal Artillery Museum.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 18, 2012 0:03:31 GMT
Patrick Graham
Lucknow, India
17th November 1857 Graham was born in Dublin in 1837. He served in India with the 90th Foot. He was elected to receive a Victoria Cross by the private soldiers of the Regiment for bringing in a wounded comrade under a very heavy fire, on the 17th of November 1857 at Lucknow. Patrick Graham died in Dublin on 3rd June 1875. He is buried in Arbour Hill.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 18, 2012 0:19:25 GMT
Thomas Hackett
Lucknow, India
18th November 1857 Hackett was born in Riverstown, Co. Tipperary on 15th June 1836. He was commissioned a Lieutenant in the 23rd Foot and fought in the Crimea and in the Indian Mutiny. On 18th November 1857 he was fighting at Lucknow. He and another officer rescued a Corporal who was lying wounded and exposed to very heavy fire. Later he climbed on a roof under fire and cut down the thatch of a Bungalow, to prevent its being set on fire. For his bravery Hackett was awarded a VC. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and subsequently fought in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War from 1873 to 1874. He died after a hunting accident in Arrabeg, Co. Offaly and is buried in Lockeen Churchyard, Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary. Hackett’s medals
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Post by groundhog on Nov 20, 2012 0:00:13 GMT
William Temple
Rangiriri, New Zealand
20th November 1863 William Temple was born in Monaghan on 7th November 1833. During the Maori Wars in New Zealand he served as an Assistant Surgeon in the Royal Artillery. On 20th November 1863 during the invasion of Waikato, Temple and another officer crossed the entrance of a Maori fort under concentrated fire to render assistance to the wounded. They were each awarded a VC. Temple later rose to the rank of Lt-Colonel in the Indian Medical Service. He died in Tunbridge Wells, Kent on 13th February 1919 and is buried in Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 22, 2012 10:29:09 GMT
[/img][/center] Richard Ridgeway was born in Oldcastle, Co. Meath on 18th August 1848. In 1879 he was a Captain in the 44th Gurkha Rifles serving with the Bengal Staff Corps in the Naga Hills Expedition. On 22nd November during the assault on the town of Konoma he single-handedly attempted to tear down a barricade to effect an entrance to the fort. While doing this he was wounded in the right shoulder. Ridgeway died in Harrogate, Yorkshire on 11th October 1924. He is buried in Lawnswood Cemetery, Leeds.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 28, 2012 0:39:35 GMT
[/img][/center] Thomas Flynn was born in Athlone in August 1842. His surname is sometimes given as Flinn. In 1857 he was a Drummer in the 64th Foot (The North Staffordshire Regiment) at Cawnpore. In A charge on the rebel guns on 28th November he engaged in a hand to hand combat with two Rebel Artillerymen although he had been wounded. For this action he was awarded a Victoria Cross. He is the second youngest winner of the award. Flynn died on 10th August 1892 in Athlone Workhouse. Tragically he ended his life a destitute, alcoholic. He is buried in Cornamagh RC Cemetery.
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Post by groundhog on Nov 28, 2012 0:40:41 GMT
Francis Fitzpatrick
Sekukuni's Town, South Africa
28th November 1879 Francis Fitzpatrick was a Pivate in the 94th Foot (The Connaught Rangers) when he won a VC on 28th November 1879 during the Zulu War. During the attack on Sekukuni's Town, a lieutenant of the 1st Dragoon Guards was badly wounded. Fitzpatrick and a Pte Flawn along with six men of the Native Contingent were carrying the wounded officer to safety when a large party of Zulus attacked them. The natives ran away leaving . Fitzpatrick and Flawn to continue the rescue, one carrying and one covering the withdrawal. Fitzpatrick was born in Tullycorbet, Co. Monaghan in 1859. He died in Glasgow on 10th July 1933 and is buried in Saint Kentigern’s Cemetery. His VC is on display in the National Army Museum, London.
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Post by groundhog on Dec 2, 2012 1:10:41 GMT
Fenton Aylmer
Nilt, India
2nd December 1891 Fenton Aylmer was the son of Fenton Aylmer, 11th Baronet of Donadea. The family came from Co. Kildare. Aylmer was born on 5th April 1862 in Hastings, Sussex. He was a Cadet at Woolwich and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers. In 1891he participated in the Hunza-Nagar Campaign in what was then North-West India. The area is now in Pakistan. The campaign was a minor expedition to assert British control over the native chiefs who were suspected of receiving guns from the Russians, the 19th century equivalent of possessing WMDs. During the siege of Nilt Fort, Aylmer was wounded while blowing open the inner gate of the fort. He fought on until he collapsed from loss of blood and was awarded a VC. Later in is military career, Aylmer unsuccessfully commanded an Indian Corps in Mesopotamia during WW1. He was relieved of command after an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Kut in 1916. He succeeded to the Baronetcy of Donadea on the death of his brother Arthur in 1928. Fenton Aylmer died on 3rd September 1935 in Wimbledon, Surrey. His VC is on display in the Royal Engineers Museum.
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