List of Victoria Cross recipients of the Royal Navy

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

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. 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 for which the VC was awarded took place. 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. 68 awards were to ship-based Royal Naval personnel with 49 awards given to those who served with other organisations within the Royal Navy such as the Royal Naval Brigade, the Royal Naval Reserve 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.

Recipients

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

Name	Vessel	Date of action	Conflict	Place of action	Notes
Hunter, ThomasThomas Hunter	43 Commando	1945*	Second World War	Comacchio, Italy
Esmonde, EugeneEugene Esmonde	Fleet Air Arm No. 825 Squadron	1942*	Second World War	Straits of Dover, England
Harding, IsraelIsrael Harding	HMS Alexandria	1882	Occupation of Egypt	Alexandria, Egypt
Robarts, JohnJohn Robarts	HMS Ardent	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Bythesea, JohnJohn Bythesea	HMS Arrogant	1854	Crimean War	Åland Islands, Finland
Ingouville, GeorgeGeorge Ingouville	HMS Arrogant	1855	Crimean War	Fort of Viborg, Finland
Johnstone, WilliamWilliam Johnstone	HMS Arrogant	1854	Crimean War	Åland Islands, Finland
Holbrook, NormanNorman Holbrook	HMS B11	1914	First World War	Dardanelles, Turkey
Hewett, WilliamWilliam Hewett	HMS Beagle	1854	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Trewavas, JosephJoseph Trewavas	HMS Beagle	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Sandford, RichardRichard Sandford	HMS C3	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Carless, JohnJohn Carless	HMS Caledon	1917*	First World War	Battle of Heligoland, Germany
Beattie, StephenStephen Beattie	HMS Campbeltown	1942	Second World War	St. Nazaire, France
Ryder, RobertRobert Ryder	HMS Campbeltown	1942	Second World War	St. Nazaire, France
Cornwell, JackJack Cornwell	HMS Chester	1916*	First World War	Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Agar, AugustusAugustus Agar	HM Coastal Motor Boat 4	1919	Baltic Campaign	Kronstadt, Russia
Dobson, ClaudeClaude Dobson	HM Coastal Motor Boat 31	1919	Baltic Campaign	Kronstadt, Russia
Steele, GordonGordon Steele	HM Coastal Motor Boat 88	1919	Baltic Campaign	Kronstadt, Russia
Cookson, EdgarEdgar Cookson	HMS Comet	1915*	First World War	Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Sephton, AlfredAlfred Sephton	HMS Coventry	1941*	Second World War	Crete, Mediterranean
Daniel, EdwardEdward Daniel	HMS Diamond	1854	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Pitcher, ErnestErnest Pitcher	HMS Dunraven	1917	First World War	Bay of Biscay, Atlantic
Dunbar-Nasmith, MartinMartin Dunbar-Nasmith	HMS E11	1915	First World War	Dardanelles, Turkey
Boyle, EdwardEdward Boyle	HMS E14	1915	First World War	Dardanelles, Turkey
White, GeoffreyGeoffrey White	HMS E14	1918*	First World War	Dardanelles, Turkey
Boyes, DuncanDuncan Boyes	HMS Euryalus	1864	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	Shimonoseki, Japan
Pride, ThomasThomas Pride	HMS Euryalus	1864	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	Shimonoseki, Japan
Seeley, WilliamWilliam Seeley	HMS Euryalus	1864	Bombardment of Shimonoseki	Shimonoseki, Japan
Campbell, GordonGordon Campbell	HMS Farnborough	1917	First World War	Atlantic Ocean
Mantle, JackJack Mantle	HMS Foylebank	1940*	Second World War	Portland, England
Roope, GeraldGerald Roope	HMS Glowworm	1940*	Second World War	West Ford, Norway
Ritchie, HenryHenry Ritchie	HMS Goliath	1914	First World War	Dar es Salaam, Tanganyika
Warburton-Lee, BernardBernard Warburton-Lee	HMS Hardy	1940*	Second World War	Narvik, Norway
Mitchell, SamuelSamuel Mitchell	HMS Harrier	1864	New Zealand Land Wars	Te Papa, New Zealand
Maillard, WilliamWilliam Maillard	HMS Hazard	1898	Occupation of Crete	Crete, Greece
Lucas, CharlesCharles Lucas	HMS Hecla	1854	Crimean War	Åland Islands, Finland
Wilson, ArthurArthur Wilson	HMS Hecla	1884	Mahdist War	Battles of El Teb, Sudan
Bradford, GeorgeGeorge Bradford	HMS Iris II	1918*	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Fegen, EdwardEdward Fegen	HMS Jervis Bay	1940*	Second World War	Atlantic Ocean
Firman, HumphreyHumphrey Firman	SS Julnar	1916*	First World War	Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Buckley, CecilCecil Buckley	HMS Miranda	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Cooper, HenryHenry Cooper	HMS Miranda	1855	Crimean War	Taganrog, Crimea
Savage, WilliamWilliam Savage	HM Motor Gun Boat 314	1942*	Second World War	St. Nazaire, France
Bingham, EdwardEdward Bingham	HMS Nestor	1916	First World War	Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Odgers, WilliamWilliam Odgers	HMS Niger	1860	New Zealand Land Wars	Omata, New Zealand
Sherbrooke, RobertRobert Sherbrooke	HMS Onslow	1942	Second World War	North Cape, Norway
Day, GeorgeGeorge Day	HMS Recruit	1855	Crimean War	Genitichi, Crimea
Malleson, WilfredWilfred Malleson	SS River Clyde	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Unwin, EdwardEdward Unwin	SS River Clyde	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Williams, WilliamWilliam Williams	SS River Clyde	1915*	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Hall, WilliamWilliam Hall	HMS Shannon	1857	Indian Rebellion of 1857	Siege of Lucknow, India
Hinckley, GeorgeGeorge Hinckley	HMS Sphinx	1862	Taiping Rebellion	Fung Wha, China
Jones, LoftusLoftus Jones	HMS Shark	1916*	First World War	Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Burgoyne, HughHugh Burgoyne	HMS Swallow	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Gould, ThomasThomas Gould	HMS Thrasher	1942	Second World War	Crete, Mediterranean
Roberts, PeterPeter Roberts	HMS Thrasher	1942	Second World War	Crete, Mediterranean
Miers, AnthonyAnthony Miers	HMS Torbay	1942	Second World War	Corfu, Greece
Linton, JohnJohn Linton	HMS Turbulent	1943*	Second World War	Mediterranean
Wanklyn, MalcolmMalcolm Wanklyn	HMS Upholder	1941*	Second World War	Sicily, Mediterranean
Robinson, EricEric Robinson	HMS Vengeance	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Carpenter, AlfredAlfred Carpenter	HMS Vindictive	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Crutchley, VictorVictor Crutchley	HMS Vindictive	1918	First World War	Ostend, Belgium
Harrison, ArthurArthur Harrison	HMS Vindictive	1918*	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
McKenzie, AlbertAlbert McKenzie	HMS Vindictive	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Peters, FrederickFrederick Peters	HMS Walney	1942	Second World War	Oran, Algeria
Commerell, JohnJohn Commerell	HMS Weser	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Rickard, WilliamWilliam Rickard	HMS Weser	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Kellaway, JosephJoseph Kellaway	HMS Wrangler	1855	Crimean War	Sea of Azov, Crimea
Magennis, JamesJames Magennis	HMS XE3	1945	Second World War	Johore Straits, Singapore
Place, BasilBasil Place	HMS X7	1943	Second World War	Kåfjord, Norway
Curtis, HenryHenry Curtis	Naval Brigade	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Gorman, JamesJames Gorman	Naval Brigade	1854	Crimean War	Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Guy, BasilBasil Guy	Naval Brigade	1900	Boxer Rebellion	Tientsin, China
Harrison, JohnJohn Harrison	Naval Brigade	1857	Indian Rebellion of 1857	Siege of Lucknow, India
Peel, WilliamWilliam Peel	Naval Brigade	1854	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Raby, HenryHenry Raby	Naval Brigade	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Reeves, ThomasThomas Reeves	Naval Brigade	1854	Crimean War	Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Robinson, EdwardEdward Robinson	Naval Brigade	1858	Indian Rebellion of 1857	Siege of Lucknow, India
Salmon, NowellNowell Salmon	Naval Brigade	1857	Indian Rebellion of 1857	Siege of Lucknow, India
Scholefield, MarkMark Scholefield	Naval Brigade	1854	Crimean War	Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Sheppard, JohnJohn Sheppard	Naval Brigade	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Sullivan, JohnJohn Sullivan	Naval Brigade	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Taylor, JohnJohn Taylor	Naval Brigade	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Young, ThomasThomas Young	Naval Brigade	1857	Indian Rebellion of 1857	Siege of Lucknow, India
Bell-Davies, RichardRichard Bell-Davies	No. 3 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service	1915	First World War	Ferrijik Junction, Bulgaria
Warneford, ReginaldReginald Warneford	No. 1 Squadron Royal Naval Air Service	1915	First World War	Ghent, Belgium
Dowell, GeorgeGeorge Dowell	Royal Marine Artillery	1855	Crimean War	Fort of Viborg, Gulf of Finland
Finch, NormanNorman Finch	Royal Marine Artillery	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Lumsden, FrederickFrederick Lumsden	Royal Marine Artillery	1917	First World War	Francilly, France
Wilkinson, ThomasThomas Wilkinson	Royal Marine Artillery	1855	Crimean War	Siege of Sevastopol, Crimea
Bamford, EdwardEdward Bamford	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge Raid, Belgium
Halliday, LewisLewis Halliday	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1900	Boxer Rebellion	Peking, China
Harvey, FrancisFrancis Harvey	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1916*	First World War	Battle of Jutland, Denmark
Parker, WalterWalter Parker	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1915	First World War	Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli, Turkey
Prettyjohns, JohnJohn Prettyjohns	Royal Marine Light Infantry	1854	Crimean War	Battle of Inkerman, Crimea
Beak, DanielDaniel Beak	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1918	First World War	Logeast Wood, France
Louis, RowlandRowland Louis	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1918	First World War	Ostend, Belgium
Cowley, CharlesCharles Cowley	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1916*	First World War	Kut-el-Amara, Mesopotamia
Dean, PercyPercy Dean	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1918	First World War	Zeebrugge, Belgium
Drummond, GeoffreyGeoffrey Drummond	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1918	First World War	Ostend, Belgium
Prowse, GeorgeGeorge Prowse	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1918	First World War	Pronville, France
Tisdall, ArthurArthur Tisdall	Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Auten, HaroldHarold Auten	Royal Naval Reserve	1918	First World War	English Channel, England
Bonner, CharlesCharles Bonner	Royal Naval Reserve	1917	First World War	Bay of Biscay, Atlantic Ocean
Cameron, DonaldDonald Cameron	Royal Naval Reserve	1943	Second World War	Kåfjord, Norway
Crisp, ThomasThomas Crisp	Royal Naval Reserve	1917*	First World War	North Sea
Drewry, GeorgeGeorge Drewry	Royal Naval Reserve	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Fraser, IanIan Fraser	Royal Naval Reserve	1945	Second World War	Johore Straits, Singapore
Parslow, FrederickFrederick Parslow	Royal Naval Reserve	1915*	First World War	Atlantic Ocean
Samson, GeorgeGeorge Samson	Royal Naval Reserve	1915	First World War	Battle of Gallipoli, Turkey
Sanders, WilliamWilliam Sanders	Royal Naval Reserve	1917*	First World War	Atlantic Ocean
Smith, ArchibaldArchibald Smith	Royal Naval Reserve	1917*	First World War	Atlantic Ocean
Stannard, RichardRichard Stannard	Royal Naval Reserve	1940	Second World War	Namsos, Norway
Stuart, RonaldRonald Stuart	Royal Naval Reserve	1917	First World War	Atlantic Ocean
Watt, JosephJoseph Watt	Royal Naval Reserve	1917	First World War	Strait of Otranto, Italy
Wilkinson, ThomasThomas Wilkinson	Royal Naval Reserve	1942*	Second World War	Java Sea, Malaya
Williams, WilliamWilliam Williams	Royal Naval Reserve	1917	First World War	Atlantic Ocean

References

• "Victoria Cross Registers". National Archives (UK). http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/victoriacross.asp. Retrieved 2007-11-28. 
• "Royal Navy Victoria Cross recipients". Mike Chapman. http://www.britisharmedforces.org/ns/nat_victoria_cross/nat_victoriacross_names_navy.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-28. 
• Ashcroft, Michael (2006). Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1632-0.