James Byrne (VC)

:"For other men with this name, please see James Byrne."

James Byrne, VC (1822 – 6 December 1872), born at Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, was 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.

Details

He was about 36 years old, and a private in the 86th Regiment (later the Royal Irish Rifles), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 3 April 1858 at Jhansi, India, Private Byme assisted a captain of his regiment (Henry Edward Jerome) in removing, under very heavy fire, a lieutenant who was severely wounded. They took the injured man to a place of safety, in the performance of which act the private was wounded.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of sergeant. He died North Dublin.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The Royal Ulster Rifles Museum "(Belfast, Northern Ireland)".

References

Listed in order of publication year
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Irelands VCs (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.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/dublin.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Dublin)"
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7706520 James Byrne] at Find-A-Grave