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- Extract of an entry
found in the National Archives
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Click to enlarge
John Lyons VC (1823-1867)
John Lyons born Carlow in 1823 was an Irish recipient of the Victoria
Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face
of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was approx. 32 years old, and a Private in the 19th Regiment
(later The Yorkshire Regiment - Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own),
British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place
for which he was awarded the VC.
On 10 June 1855 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, Private Lyons picked up
a live shell which had fallen among the guard of the trenches, and threw
it over the parapet, thus saving many lives.
He later achieved the rank of Corporal. He died Naas County Kildare20
April 1867.
“One of the most bizarre photographs of an Irish Crimean veteran,”
David Murphy writes, “is the study of Corporal John Lyons of the 19th
Foot. Lyons, a native of Carlow, who won the Victoria Cross for his
bravery on 10 June 1855, returned to Ireland after the war. He died in
Naas in April 1867 and his relatives dressed him in his uniform,
attached his medals and prepared him for burial. They then decided that,
as Lyons looked so spruce, to have his photograph taken and propped his
body in a chair for the local photographer. This photograph has been
used in works on the Victoria Cross ... but usually only the head and
shoulders of the study is used. The full photograph is pretty macabre.”
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Green Howards Museum
(Richmond, Yorkshire, England).
You can read more information on John Lyons here:
http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/html-files/vcgc-lyons.htm
Crimean War
John
Lucas VC (1823-1892)
John Lucas born Glasgomy Bagenalstown Co Carlow 1827 was an Irish
recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award
for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth forces.
He was approx. 34 years old, and a Colour-Sergeant in the 40th
Regiment (later The South Lancashire Regiment - The Prince of Wales's
Volunteers), British Army during the Taranaki Maori War, New Zealand
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 18 March 1861 in New Zealand, Colour-Sergeant Lucas was with a
party employed as skirmishers, when they were suddenly ambushed. Three
men were wounded, two of them mortally and help was called for, but when
a relief party arrived one of them fell and a lieutenant was also
wounded. Sergeant Lucas, under heavy fire from the rebels, who were not
more than 30 yards away, immediately ran to the assistance of the
officer and sent a man with him to the rear. He then took charge of the
arms, belonging to the killed and wounded until the arrival of support
troops.
He later achieved the rank of Sergeant-Major. He died in Dublin 29
February 1892.
- James Thomas Byford
McCudden
V.C., D.S.O. & Bar,
- M.C. and Bar, M.M.,
(1895-1918)
- James McCudden pictured in the Daily Mail on
Monday 7th January 1918 when he was given the
Victoria Cross in 1918
|
Sons of William & Amelia McCudden (nee Byford) of "Pitlochry",
37 Burton Road, Kingston-on-Thames, London..
The reason for the claim
to Carlow is that their father was born in Carlow (Sergeant-Major
William H. McCudden and his wife Amelia) and at the time of his sons
birth's, they were based in England. So by mishap in the fathers
posting they were born away from Carlow, so it is a good claim as a
third Victoria Cross for Carlow and Ireland in general.
McCudden died in a flying accident and not in combat. On July 9th
1918, his aeroplane suffered engine failure after taking off and he
was killed in the accident.
Major James Thomas Byford McCudden was credited in World War One
with the largest numer of decorations including a Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) and a bar to his Military Cross. Combined with his VC and MM,
McCudden was one of the most decorated combatants of World War One.
The
McCudden Brothers
Carlow’s V.C's
from
Co Carlow Military Museum
The information
contained in these pages is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with
others
researching their ancestors in Ireland.
© 2001 County Carlow
Genealogy IGP
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