John Byrne (VC) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Byrne
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Depiction of the battle of Inkerman
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| Born | September 1832 Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Died | 10 July 1879 (aged 46) Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales |
| Buried |
St Woolos Cemetery, Wales
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1850–1872 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 68th Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War New Zealand Wars |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal |
John Byrne (born September 1832 – died July 10, 1879) was a brave soldier in the British Army. He was from Ireland and received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery a soldier can get in the face of danger. This special medal is given to soldiers from Britain and Commonwealth countries. He also earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
A Brave Soldier's Life
John Byrne was born in September 1832 in a place called Castlecomer in County Kilkenny, Ireland.
When he was about 22 years old, John Byrne was a private in the 68th Regiment of Foot (which later became The Durham Light Infantry). He was fighting in the Crimean War. He earned his amazing Victoria Cross medal for his actions during a big battle called the Battle of Inkerman. This battle happened on November 5, 1854, on the Crimean Peninsula.
During the battle, his army unit was told to retreat. But Private Byrne saw a wounded soldier. Even though it was very dangerous and he was under enemy fire, he went back to help. He risked his own life to bring the injured soldier to safety.
A few months later, on May 11, 1855, he showed incredible bravery again. He was defending a wall (called a parapet) and fought hand-to-hand with an enemy soldier. John Byrne stopped the enemy from getting in, defeated his opponent, and even captured his weapons.
He later became a corporal and then a Sergeant. He passed away when he was 46 years old in Newport, Wales.
The Victoria Cross Medal
The Victoria Cross is the highest military award for bravery in the United Kingdom. John Byrne's medal is not currently on public display. However, his New Zealand campaign medal is kept at the Durham Light Infantry Museum.
In 2015, a Victoria Cross medal was found in the mud of the River Thames in London. This medal had the date "November 5, 1854" engraved on it. This date was important because it was the day of the Battle of Inkerman.
There were 16 Victoria Crosses given for actions during that battle. At the time, two of these medals were missing or "unaccounted for." One belonged to John Byrne and the other to John McDermond. After the medal was found, experts confirmed it was the one awarded to John Byrne.
