Thomas Byrne (VC)
{{Short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (1866–1944)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Thomas Byrne
|honorific_suffix=VC
|birth_date= December 1866
|death_date={{death date and age|1944|3|15|1866|12|df=yes}}
|birth_place= York Street, Dublin, Ireland
|death_place=Canterbury, England
|placeofburial=Canterbury City Cemetery
|placeofburial_label =
|placeofburial_coordinates = {{Coord|51.285715|1.064139|display=inline,title}}
|image=File:Thomas_Byrne_VC,_21st_Lancers.jpg
|image_size=185
|caption=Byrne circa 1899
|nickname=
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=1887 - 1909
|rank=Private
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|commands=
|unit=
|battles=
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}}
|awards= Victoria Cross
|laterwork=
}}
Thomas Byrne, VC (December 1866 Dublin – 15 March 1944) was an Irish British Army soldier. He was the recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Deed
He was 31 years old, and a private in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's), British Army, during the reconquest of Sudan when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
On 2 September 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, Private Byrne turned back in the middle of the charge of the 21st Lancers and went to the assistance of a lieutenant of the Royal Horse Guards who was wounded, dismounted, disarmed and being attacked by several Dervishes. Private Byrne already wounded, attacked these Dervishes, received a second severe wound and by his gallant conduct enabled the officer to escape.{{London Gazette|issue=27490|page=6897|date=31 October 1902}}
Winston Churchill, an eye-witness, described it was the bravest act he had ever seen performed.{{cite web |url=https://theroyallancers.org/private-thomas-byrne-vc-21st-empress-of-indias-lancers |title=Private Thomas Byrne VC, 21st Empress of India's Lancers |date=9 July 2020 |website=theroyallancers.org |access-date=4 August 2024}}
Honours
Byrne's medal entitlement was:{{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbbyrnet.htm |title=The campaign medals awarded to Sergeant Thomas Byrne VC, 21st Lancers, have been sold at a David Lay Auction in Cornwall|date=25 August 2015 |website=victoriacross.org.uk |access-date=4 August 2024}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto" | ||
| style="background:silver;" align="center"
|Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| 40px | Victoria Cross (VC) | * 2 September 1898 |
| 40px | Queen's Sudan Medal | |
| 40px | Queen's South Africa Medal | * With clasps "Cape Colony", "Orange Free State", "Transvaal" |
| 40px | King George VI Coronation Medal | * 12 May 1937
|
| 40px | Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | |
| 40px | Khedive's Sudan Medal | * With clasp "Khartoum" |
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- His Medals (including a replacement VC) were sold at Auction for £40,000 at David Lay Auctioneers in Penzance, Cornwall on 25 August 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/cornwall/medals-of-churchills-hero-sell-for-pound40000-52ssg7bp9ws |title=Medals of 'Churchill's hero' sell for £40,000 |last=Gorman |first=Claire |date=26 August 2015 |website=The Sunday Times |access-date=18 July 2021}}
Later life
File:Thomas Byrne grave Canterbury 2017.jpg
He later served in the Second Boer War and retired from the army in 1909 after serving with the Regimental Police. In retirement he lived in Canterbury, Kent.{{cite web |url=http://www.canterbury.gov.uk/news.php?id=1562&mode=detail |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010181035/https://www.canterbury.gov.uk/main.cfm?objectid=3630 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 October 2011 |title=City remembers Victoria Cross hero |website=Canterbury City Council Online|access-date=4 August 2024}} He rejoined the army in 1914 and served at the Cavalry Remount Depot, Canterbury, and in the Garrison Police. After the War, he was a messenger at the Cavalry Pay and Records Office. He died in Canterbury on 15 March 1944, and is buried at Canterbury City Cemetery. His funeral was attended by Winston Churchill, who also took part in the charge at Omdurman.{{cite news |title=Irish V.C. was with Churchill in action |work=The Evening Herald |date=29 August 1945 |page=3}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- {{cite journal|first=Brian D. H.|last=Clarke|title=A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men|journal=The Irish Sword|volume=XVI|issue=64|pages=185–287|year=1986}}
- 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)
- {{cite book|last=Ingleton|first=Roy|title=Kent VCs|publisher=Pen and Sword Books|year=2011|isbn=978-1848844094}}
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Category:Irish soldiers in the British Army
Category:British Army personnel of the Mahdist War
Category:Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:21st Lancers soldiers
Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War