John Alexander (VC)

{{Short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (d. 1857)}}

{{Other people|John Alexander}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}

{{Infobox military person

|name= John Alexander

|image=The Battle of Sebastopol.png

|image_size= 275

|caption= Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol

|birth_date=

|death_date= 24 September 1857

|birth_place= Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland

|death_place= Alumbagh, Lucknow, British India

|placeofburial=

|nickname=

|allegiance= {{flagicon|United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland}} United Kingdom

|branch= British Army

|serviceyears=

|rank= Private

|unit= 90th Perthshire Light Infantry

|commands=

|battles= Crimean War
Indian Mutiny

|awards= Victoria Cross
Médaille Militaire (France)

|laterwork=

}}

John Alexander VC (died 24 September 1857) was a British Army soldier and an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British and Commonwealth forces.

Born in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Alexander was a private in the 90th Perthshire Light Infantry (later known as The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)), during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 18 June 1855 after the attack on the Redan at Sebastopol, Alexander went out from the trenches under very heavy fire and brought in several wounded men. On 6 September, when he was with a working party in the most advanced trench, he went out under heavy fire and helped to bring in a captain who was severely wounded.{{London Gazette |issue=21971 |date=24 February 1857 |page=661 }}

He was later killed in action during the Siege of Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny in British India on 24 September 1857.