John Barry (VC)

John Barry VC (February 1, 1873 - January 8, 1901) born St Mary's parish, Kilkenny, Ireland, and was by birth 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.

He was 27 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, British Army during the South African War (Boer War, 1899-1902) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 7/8 January 1901 at Monument Hill, South Africa, during a night attack, Private Barry, although wounded and threatened by the enemy, smashed the breach of the Maxim gun thus rendering it useless to its captors. It was while doing this gallant act that he met his death.

References

Listed in order of publication year
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggsafric.htm Burial location of John Barry] "Transvaal"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aaauctio.htm Location of Victoria Cross] "Sold at auction by Dix Noonan Webb"