List of Victoria Cross recipients from the British 2nd Division

The Victoria Cross (VC) is a 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. The VC was introduced, in Great Britain, on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service, and to civilians under military command. All those who earn the VC have their names published in The London Gazette.

The 2nd Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was formed and disbanded several times over a 200-year period. It was raised in 1854, to take part in the Crimean War against the Russian Empire. It played an important role in the Battle of Inkerman, and was engaged throughout the Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855). In 1856, after the conclusion of hostilities, the division was disbanded. During the war, ten VCs were earned by members of the division. It was formed again, in 1899, for service in the Second Boer War. The division took part in all the notable battles that made up the Relief of Ladysmith. At the end of 1900, when conventional warfare ended, the division was broken-up so its forces could be reassigned in an effort to combat the Boer guerrilla tactics. During this period, a further eight VCs were earned by soldiers who were part of the division. The division was reformed in 1902, and went on to fight in many of the major battles on the Western Front during the First World War (1914–1918). During the four years of war, eighteen members of the division earned VCs. The division next saw combat during the Second World War (1939–1945), which resulted in three more soldiers being awarded the VC. Since the Second World War, the division has not been in battle and was disbanded for the final time in 2012.

Recipients

Date of action Rank Name Unit Place of action Country of action Sources +26 October 1854Brevet-Major49th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia26 October 1854Sergeant Major41st Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia30 October 1854Corporal49th Regiment of FootCrimeaRussia5 November 1854Private55th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia5 November 1854Private47th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia5 November 1854Brevet-Major41st Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia5 November 1854Brevet-Major30th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia5 November 1854Sergeant49th Regiment of FootInkerman, CrimeaRussia8 September 1855Lieutenant-Colonel3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, CrimeaRussia8 September 1855Private3rd Regiment of FootSevastopol, CrimeaRussia15 December 1899MajorRoyal Army Medical CorpsColensoNatal15 December 1899CaptainRifle BrigadeColensoNatal15 December 1899CorporalRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal15 December 1899CaptainRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal15 December 1899LieutenantKing's Royal Rifle CorpsColensoNatal15 December 1899CaptainRoyal Field ArtilleryColensoNatal23 February 1900PrivateEast Surrey RegimentWynne's HillNatal 27 February 1900CaptainWest Yorkshire RegimentTugelaNatal23 August 1914Corporal15th The King's HussarsHarmingniesBelgium25–26 August 1914Lance CorporalColdstream GuardsLandreciesFrance14 September 1914PrivateHighland Light InfantryVerneuilFrance19–20 September 1914CaptainRoyal Army Medical CorpsHaute-AvesnesFrance28 September 1914Lance CorporalColdstream GuardsNear SoupirFrance29 October–8 November 1914LieutenantRoyal Army Medical CorpsZonnebekeBelgium11 November 1914LieutenantHighland Light InfantryBecelaereBelgium1 February 1915Lance CorporalIrish GuardsCuinchyFrance16 May 1915Lance CorporalKing's (Liverpool Regiment)Rue du BoisFrance25 September 1915CaptainSouth Staffordshire RegimentCuinchyFrance27 September 1915CorporalHertfordshire RegimentCuinchyFrance16 November 1915Second LieutenantPrincess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)VermellesFrance24 October 1916SergeantKing's Royal Rifle CorpsDelville WoodFrance17 February 1917Lance SergeantRoyal FusiliersNear MiraumontFrance29 April 1917Lance CorporalPrincess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment)OppyFrance30 November 1917Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Royal FusiliersNear MoeuvresFrance30 November–1 December 1917Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)Near MoeuvresFrance16 April 1918PrivateKing's (Liverpool Regiment)Boisieux St. MarcFrance15–16 May 1940Second LieutenantDurham Light InfantryRiver DyleBelgium21 May 1940Company Sergeant-MajorRoyal Norfolk RegimentRiver Escaut near TournaiBelgium4–6 May 1944Lieutenant (Temporary Captain)Royal Norfolk RegimentKohimaIndia

See also List of orders of battle for the British 2nd Division List of commanders of the British 2nd Division

Notes

References

Further reading