James Byrne (VC)

James Byrne VC (Irish: Séamus Ó Broin; 1822 – 6 December 1872) 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.

James Byrne
Born1822
Newtown, County Wicklow
Died6 December 1872 (aged 49–50)
Dublin, Ireland
Buried
Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankSergeant
Unit86th Regiment of Foot
Battles/warsIndian Mutiny
AwardsVictoria Cross

Details

Byrne was about 36 years old, and a private in the 86th Regiment of Foot (later the Royal Irish Rifles), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 3 April 1858 at Jhansi, India for which he and Captain Henry Edward Jerome were awarded the VC.

For gallant conduct on the 3rd of April, 1858, at the attack of the Fort of Jhansi, in carrying Lieutenant Sewell, who was lying badly wounded, to a place of safety, under a very heavy fire, assisted by Captain Jerome, in the performance of which act he was wounded by a sword cut.[1]

Further information

He later achieved the rank of sergeant. He died in north Dublin.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Ulster Rifles Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

References
  1. "No. 22324". The London Gazette. 19 June 1860. p. 4034.

Listed in order of publication year

  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
  • Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
  • Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

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