List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy

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.Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90

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

NameVesselDate of actionConflictPlace of actionNotes43 Commando1945*Second World WarComacchio, ItalyFleet Air ArmNo. 825 Squadron1942*Second World WarStraits of Dover, England1882Occupation of EgyptAlexandria, Egypt1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1854Crimean WarÅland, Finland1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Finland1854Crimean WarÅland, Finland1914First World WarDardanelles, Turkey1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium1917*First World WarBattle of Heligoland, Germany1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France1942Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, DenmarkHM Coastal Motor Boat 41919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, RussiaHM Coastal Motor Boat 311919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, RussiaHM Coastal Motor Boat 881919Baltic CampaignKronstadt, Russia1915*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia1941*Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaVC forfeited for desertion in 1861. 1917First World WarBay of Biscay, AtlanticVC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224–2271917First World WarBay of Biscay, AtlanticVC awarded by ballot. Ashcroft, Michael, pp.224–2271915First World WarDardanelles, Turkey1918*First World WarDardanelles, Turkey1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, Japan1864Bombardment of ShimonosekiShimonoseki, JapanFirst American recipient. 1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean1940*Second World WarPortland, EnglandOnly naval VC awarded for action on British mainland. 1940*Second World WarVestfjord, NorwayOnly person to be nominated by enemy. 1914First World WarDar es Salaam, Tanganyika1940*Second World WarNarvik, Norway1864New Zealand WarsTe Papa, New Zealand1898Occupation of CreteCrete, Greece1854Crimean WarÅland, Finland1884Mahdist WarBattles of El Teb, Sudan1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium1940*Second World WarAtlantic Ocean1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1855Crimean WarTaganrog, Crimea HM Motor Gun Boat 3141942*Second World WarSt. Nazaire, France1916First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark1860New Zealand WarsOmata, New Zealand1942Second World WarNorth Cape, Norway1855Crimean WarGenitichi, Crimea1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey1915*First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey/Naval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, India1862Taiping RebellionFung Wha, China1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, Denmark1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean1942Second World WarCrete, Mediterranean1942Second World WarCorfu, Greece1943*Second World WarMediterranean1941*Second World WarSicily, Mediterranean1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, Turkey1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium1918First World WarOstend, Belgium 1918*First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, Belgium1942Second World WarOran, Algeria1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1855Crimean WarSea of Azov, Crimea1945Second World WarJohore Straits, Singapore1943Second World WarKåfjord, NorwayNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea Naval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, CrimeaNaval Brigade1900Boxer RebellionTientsin, ChinaNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, IndiaNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, Crimea Naval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, CrimeaNaval Brigade1858Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, IndiaNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, IndiaNaval Brigade1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, CrimeaNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaNaval Brigade1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaNaval Brigade1857Indian Rebellion of 1857Siege of Lucknow, IndiaNo. 3 SquadronRoyal Naval Air Service1915First World WarFerrijik Junction, BulgariaNo. 1 SquadronRoyal Naval Air Service1915First World WarGhent, BelgiumRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarFort of Viborg, Gulf of FinlandRoyal Marine Artillery1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, BelgiumRoyal Marine Artillery1917First World WarFrancilly, FranceRoyal Marine Artillery1855Crimean WarSiege of Sevastopol, CrimeaRoyal Marine Light Infantry1918First World WarZeebrugge Raid, BelgiumRoyal Marine Light Infantry1900Boxer RebellionPeking, ChinaRoyal Marine Light Infantry1916*First World WarBattle of Jutland, DenmarkRoyal Marine Light Infantry1915First World WarGaba Tepe, Gallipoli, TurkeyRoyal Marine Light Infantry1854Crimean WarBattle of Inkerman, CrimeaRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarLogeast Wood, FranceRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, BelgiumRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1916*First World WarKut-el-Amara, MesopotamiaRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarZeebrugge, BelgiumRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarOstend, BelgiumRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1916 First World WarBattle of the Ancre, FranceNZ recipient. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve1918First World WarPronville, FranceRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, TurkeyRoyal Naval Reserve1918First World WarEnglish Channel, EnglandRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarBay of Biscay, Atlantic OceanRoyal Naval Reserve1943Second World WarKåfjord, NorwayRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarNorth SeaRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, TurkeyRoyal Naval Reserve1945Second World WarJohore Straits, SingaporeRoyal Naval Reserve1915*First World WarAtlantic OceanRoyal Naval Reserve1915First World WarBattle of Gallipoli, TurkeyRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic OceanRoyal Naval Reserve1917*First World WarAtlantic OceanRoyal Naval Reserve1940Second World WarNamsos, NorwayRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic OceanRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarStrait of Otranto, ItalyRoyal Naval Reserve1942*Second World WarJava Sea, MalayaRoyal Naval Reserve1917First World WarAtlantic Ocean

Notes

References