thumb|Sergeant Luke O'Connor Winning the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Alma (1854). Oil by Louis William Desanges.
The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 111 members of the British Armed Forces during the Crimean War (also known as the Russian War) that lasted from 1854 to 1856. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. It takes precedence over all other Orders, decorations and medals; it may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park.
In 1854, the Crimean War broke out between the Russian Empire and an alliance of France, Great Britain, the Kingdom of Sardinia and the Ottoman Empire. One of the first battles of the War was the Battle of the Alma where allied forces convincingly defeated the Russian forces. The siege of Sevastapol followed shortly after in September 1854; it was to last for a year at the cost of over 128,000 lives, three-quarters of which died from disease. After the siege at Sevastapol, the fighting mainly ceased and on 30 March 1856, after two years of action, the Russians negotiated a Peace Treaty at the Congress of Paris. The Treaty set the Black Sea as neutral territory, closing it to all warships, and prohibiting fortifications and the presence of armaments on its shores. The Crimean War led to a number of large-scale changes in the British Army. The sale of commissions came under great scrutiny during the war, especially in connection with the Battle of Balaclava, which saw the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade. This scrutiny eventually led to the abolition of the sale of commissions.
The dispatches of William Howard Russell during the war highlighted how many acts of bravery and valour by British servicemen went unrewarded. There was a growing feeling amongst the public and in the Royal Court that a new award was needed to recognise incidents of gallantry that were unconnected with a man's lengthy or meritorious service. Queen Victoria issued a warrant under the Royal sign-manual on 29 January 1856 (gazetted 5 February 1856) The first awards ceremony was held on 26 June 1857 where Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in a ceremony in Hyde Park. As a result of the change of policy, one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous but it was only in the general revision of the warrant issued in 1920 that a clause was inserted to explicitly allow posthumous awards.
Recipients
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name!!Unit!!Date of action!!Place of action
|-
|||Grenadier Guards||<span style="display:none">1855-09-02</span>2 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">090</span>90th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-06-07</span>7 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">055</span>55th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Welch Fusiliers||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">017</span>17th Lancers||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1854-11-20</span>20 November 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|Joseph Bradshaw||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1855-04-22</span>22 April 1855||Woronzoff Road, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1855-05-29</span>29 May 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1855-05-29</span>29 May 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">068</span>68th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1854-08-09</span>9 August 1854||Åland, Finland
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">034</span>34th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-03-29</span>29 March 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">097</span>97th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-08-30</span>30 August 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1855-10-11</span>11 October 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">003</span>3rd Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">049</span>49th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||HMS Miranda||<span style="display:none">1855-06-03</span>3 June 1855||Taganrog, Crimea
|-
|||Scots Fusiliers Guards||<span style="display:none">1855-09-06</span>6 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1854-11-20</span>20 November 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1854-10-18</span>18 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1855-09-17</span>17 September 1855||Genitichi, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1854-10-17</span>17 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-04-17</span>17 April 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Marine Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-07-13</span>13 July 1855||Fort of Viborg, Finland
|-
|||<span style="display:none">011</span>11th Hussars||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">055</span>55th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-03-29</span>29 March 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">018</span>18th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">019</span>19th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-04-13</span>13 April 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">017</span>17th Lancers||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">057</span>57th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-03-22</span>22 March 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Coldstream Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-10-28</span>28 October 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">004</span>4th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-10-18</span>18 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Scots Greys||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">007</span>7th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">068</span>68th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-05-11</span>11 May 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">007</span>7th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">007</span>7th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-07</span>7 June 1855<br>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1855-04-22</span>22 April 1855||Woronzoff Road, Crimea
|-
|||HMS Arrogant||<span style="display:none">1855-07-13</span>13 July 1855||Fort of Viborg, Finland
|-
|||HMS Arrogant||<span style="display:none">1854-08-09</span>9 August 1854||Åland Islands, Finland
|-
|||<span style="display:none">007</span>7th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-07</span>7 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1855-08-31</span>31 August 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||Scots Fusiliers Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-02-14</span>14 February 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1854-11-20</span>20 November 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Scots Fusiliers Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea<br>Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||||<span style="display:none">1854-06-21</span>21 June 1854||Åland Islands, Finland
|-
|||<span style="display:none">097</span>97th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">019</span>19th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-10</span>10 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-04-19</span>19 April 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">041</span>41st Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">013</span>13th Light Dragoons||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">003</span>3rd Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-09-05</span>5 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">057</span>57th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-23</span>23 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">047</span>47th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1855-04-22</span>July 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Scots Fusilier Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">044</span>44th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-10-20</span>20 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">006</span>6th Dragoons||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">090</span>90th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">007</span>7th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-12-19</span>19 December 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Welch Fusiliers||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">049</span>49th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-10-30</span>30 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Grenadier Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">077</span>77th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-04-19</span>19 April 1855||Alma, Crimea<br>Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">004</span>4th Light Dragoons||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1854-10-18</span>18 October 1854<br>5 November 1854<br>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Grenadier Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Marine Light Infantry||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">001</span>1st Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-16</span>16 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">002</span>2nd Dragoons||<span style="display:none">1854-10-25</span>25 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Scots Fusiliers Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-09-20</span>20 September 1854||Alma, Crimea
|-
|||HMS Weser||<span style="display:none">1855-10-11</span>11 October 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||HMS Ardent||<span style="display:none">1855-05-29</span>29 May 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||Corps of Royal Engineers||<span style="display:none">1855-07-21</span>21 July 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">041</span>41st Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Grenadier Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1855-07-15</span>15 July 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Welch Fusiliers||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">034</span>34th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">017</span>17th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Coldstream Guards||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Coldstream Guards||<span style="display:none">1855-09-00</span>September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1855-04-10</span>10 April 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Welch Fusiliers||<span style="display:none">1855-09-08</span>8 September 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-06-06</span>6 June 1855||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Naval Brigade||<span style="display:none">1855-06-18</span>18 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Regiment of Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-09-22</span>29 September 1855||Kars, Turkey
|-
|||HMS Beagle||<span style="display:none">1855-07-03</span>3 July 1855||Sea of Azov, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">030</span>30th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">049</span>49th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1854-11-05</span>5 November 1854||Inkerman, Crimea
|-
|||Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)||<span style="display:none">1854-10-12</span>12 October 1854||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||Royal Marine Artillery||<span style="display:none">1855-06-07</span>7 June 1855||Sevastopol, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">017</span>17th Lancers||<span style="display:none">1854-10-26</span>26 October 1854||Balaclava, Crimea
|-
|||<span style="display:none">077</span>77th Regiment of Foot||<span style="display:none">1855-03-22</span>22 March 1855<br>19 April 1855