Royal Marine VCs

From Crimean War to World War II

Royal Marine Infantry, Artillery and Commandos

This page is the beginning of the "Royal Marines Victoria Crosses" section; all Links in this section are on this page. To follow the Links in order click-on the highlighted Link at the bottom of the page; or use the Links at the side.

The previous page was: "Montecristo"

Royal Marine VCs; these men are the true recorded heroes of the Royal Marines, and rightly so, their gallantry deserves recognition for their brave deeds that they courageously shouldered on themselves.

Every person who wears the Globe and Laurel of the Corps can feel proud to walk the paths of their heroic forefathers, for they are all true members of the valiant family of Royal Marines.

There is more substantiation about the Corps more recent heroes, where, their records of service have been more accurately recorded.

Unfortunately the older generations records were not so detailed or thoroughly recorded like they are today; however there is sufficient confirmation proving witness to these great deeds of valour and honour.

We must always remember that many great deeds of bravery go on all of the time without witness to their feat, and therefore go unrecognised and unrecorded.

Montecristo

The Victoria Cross Award

The Victoria Cross was instituted during the Crimean War by Royal Warrant on 29th January 1856 to honour extreme acts of valour carried out in the face of the enemy.

All persons considered for the award were to be on a perfectly even footing "neither rank, nor long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery . . ."

The first investiture was held in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. Queen Victoria decorated sixty-two men, twelve were Naval personnel and two were Royal Marines.

Today there is another medal for distinction of bravery beyound the call of duty; for that person's family it is the: "Elizabeth Cross"

Elizabeth Cross; Her Majesty the Queen has given her name to a new form of Recognition for the families of British Service personnel killed while serving their country; Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has announced today, Wednesday 1 July 2009.

Corporal John Prettyjohn

Royal Marines, H.M.S. Agamemnon, detachment

Besides his V.C. Prettyjohn was awarded the British Crimea Medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol. The Turkish Crimea and Sardinian Crimea Medals, the China Medal 1857 with clasp for Canton a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and a Good Conduct gratuity for gallantry in the Crimea.

He died aged 62, in Manchester on 20th January 1887.

Corporal John Prettyjohn VC

Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson

Royal Marines Artillery

As well as the VC, Wilkinson also received the French Legion of Honour, the Turkish Crimea Medal and the British Crimea Medal with clasps for Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol.

He died aged 55, in York on 22nd September 1887.

Bombardier Thomas Wilkinson VC

Lieutenant George Dowell

Royal Marines Artillery, H.M.S. Ruby

His Victoria Cross had the Blue Ribbon (won at sea) he was also presented with the Crimea Medal with Baltic Clasp.

He retired from military service with the rank of Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel as Adjutant of the 3rd Brigade, Western Division of Artillery Militia on 29th January 1886.

He then emigrated.

He died aged 79, in Auckland, New Zealand.

Lieutenant George Dowell VC

Captain Lewis Halliday

Royal Marines Light Infantry

H.M.S. Orlando, Boxer Rebellion, Peking, China

Apart from the V.C. he held a China War Medal with Defence of Legations clasp, the Order of Companion of the Bath, 3rd June 1913, British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914-1918 Star.

He was Deputy Lieutenant for Devon from the 1930's until 1950 and Gentleman Usher to the Sword of State.

He died on 9th March 1966 in Dorking.

Captain Lewis Halliday VC

Lance-Corporal Walter Parker

Royal Marines Light Infantry

Royal Naval Division, Gallipoli, Turkey

Though severely wounded during the operation Parker was eventually invalided from the service in June 1916.

Beside his VC he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War and Victory Medals and a war gratuity of £10.

The men of the Division presented him with an inscribed marble and gilt clock.

He never fully recovered from his injuries and died aged 55.

Lance-Corporal Walter Parker VC

Major Francis Harvey

Royal Marines Light Infantry

H.M.S. Lion, at the Battle of Jutland

The Victoria Cross was presented to his widow by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 29th November 1916. He also held a 1914-1915 Star and a Victory Medal was issued in his name.

He was buried at sea.

Major Francis Harvey VC

Major Frederick Lumsden

Royal Marines Artillery

Western Front. 3rd April 1917

Whilst Brigade Commander of the 14th Brigade he was further gazetted on 11th May 1917 for two bars to his D.S.O.

In the temporary rank of Brigadier-General he was wounded on 2nd August 1917 and on return to duty promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel Royal Marines Artillery for distinguished service.

On 19th April 1918 he was awarded a third bar for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the field.

He was awarded the Companion of the Bath in the King's Birthday honours list for 1918.

He held the 1914 Star, British War Medal, Belgium's Croix de Guerre and was mentioned in dispatches four times.

He was killed in a forward trench on the night of the 3rd June 1918.

Major Frederick Lumsden VC

Sergeant Norman Finch

Royal Marines Artillery

H.M.S. Vindictive, Zeebrugge, 23/4/18

In 1964 he was appointed Divisional Sergeant-Major in Her Majesty's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and awarded the Royal Victorian Medal for his services.

His other medals were 1914/15 Star, the British War and Victory Medals, and on 27th January 1924 the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

He died aged 75, in St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth on 15th March 1966

Modern-day Pages Fast Boats Pages Sergeant Norman Finch VC

Corporal Thomas Hunter

43rd Royal Marine Commando, Lake Commachio

King George VI presented his VC to his parents at a private investiture on 26th September at Holy-rood House.

Corporal Hunter was finally hit in the head by a burst of Spandau fire.

Joe Wezley Pages Corporal Thomas Hunter VC

Captain Edward Bamford

4th Battalion Royal Marines Light Infantry

His other decorations were the Russian Order of St. Anne 3rd Class with Swords on 5th June 1917, French Legion of Honour on 23rd May 1919, Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 4th Class in August 1921, 1914-1915 Star (MID), British War medal and Victory Medal.

He died aged 41, on 30th September 1928,

The next Link below will be: "Captain Edward Bamford VC"

Royal Marine VCs Elizabeth Cross Captain Edward Bamford VC

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