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.

Winston Churchill, an eye-witness, described it as the bravest act he had ever seen performed.

Honours

Byrne's medal entitlement was:

{| 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
  • All living VC recipients received this medal

|-

|40px || Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal ||

|-

|40px || Khedive's Sudan Medal

||

  • With clasp "Khartoum"

|-

|}

  • His Medals (including a replacement VC) were sold at Auction for £40,000 at David Lay Auctioneers in Penzance, Cornwall on 25 August 2015.

Later life

thumb|Byrne's grave (Section MJ Grave 22) at Canterbury City Cemetery, England, in 2017

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. 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.

References

Bibliography

  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
  • 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)