The foremost British and Commonwealth gallantry decoration is awarded for very exceptional gallantry and, as such, is the most prized award that any subject can earn.
These pages commemorate those Men of Portsmouth to whom the VC was awarded. Each is listed below - click on their names for further details of their actions and biographies.
Detailed maps of each can be
found on the VC Pages.
Highland Road Cemetery |
Others |
See also the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club Memorial plaque to members upon whom the VC was conferred.
For a brief history see the Victoria Cross website. For information on the graves of men awarded the Victoria Cross see the Victoria Cross Trust.
BOOK REVIEW
The Complete Victoria Cross
By Kevin Brazier
Published by Pen & Sword
ISBN 978 1 84884 150 5
£25
The Victoria Cross has been awarded on 1358 occasions (as of February 2010) since Queen Victoria signed the royal warrant on 29th January 1856. In the ensuing years there have been many books written about the VCs and the actions that brought about their award, but in "The Complete Victoria Cross", Kevin Brazier has for the first time listed these awards chronologically. He does this not once but twice, the first giving name and rank of the recipient, the date of the action, place of burial and location of the VC itself. The second list repeats the name and rank of the recipient and the date of the action and then goes on to give a description of the act of valour. It is not clear why there are two chronological lists, especially as Brazier concludes the book with a third list, this time alphabetical. Despite this, Kevin Brazier has produced a comprehensive handbook on the Victoria Cross, one which will doubtless grace the shelves of many a military and genealogical researcher.
George Housman Thomas (1824-1868)
The Queen distributing the first Victoria Crosses in Hyde Park, 26th June 1857
The Royal Collection © 2004, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Further Information
The first man to receive his Victoria Cross from the Queen was Commander Raby. He was followed shortly by Lieutenant Hewett (5th in line), Gunner Robarts (6th), Seaman Reeves (10th) and Boatswain Curtis (11th). It is no small coincidence that all five would be buried in Portsmouth and three of them in Highland Road Cemetery.
