John Connors (VC)
John Connors VC (October 1830 – 29 January 1857) was born in Duagh, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross,[1] the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
John Connors | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 1830 Listowel, County Kerry |
| Died | 29 January 1857 (aged 26) Corfu, Greece |
| Buried | British Cemetery, Corfu |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 3rd Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards |  Victoria Cross |
Details
Connors was approximately 24 years old, and a private in the 3rd Regiment of Foot (later The East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 8 September 1855 at Sebastopol in the Crimea, Private Connors showed conspicuous gallantry at the assault on the Redan in personal conflict with the enemy.[2] He rescued an officer of the 30th Regiment who was surrounded by Russians, by shooting one and bayoneting another.[3]
Further information
He later achieved the rank of Corporal. He died at Corfu 29 January 1857.[4]
There is some doubt as to whether Connors was ever awarded the medal before his death, or whether it reached his widow.[5]
References
- "John Connors Victoria Cross". www.vconline.org.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- Stanway, Kate (2012). Britannia's Calendar of Heroes. Andrews UK Limited. p. 250. ISBN 978-1-78149-231-4.
- "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 658.
- "Replica Victoria Cross awarded to Private John Connors VC, 3rd (The East Kent) Regiment of Foot (The Buffs) | Online Collection | National Army Museum, London". collection.nam.ac.uk.
- Grehan, John (2016). The First VCs: The Stories Behind the First Victoria Crosses in the Crimean War and the Definition of Courage. Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-5172-6.
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross' (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
- Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale; Four Courts, 2000 ISBN 185182491X)