Chief Officer Coastguards William Thomas Rickard VC, CGM - Royal Navy

The first announcement of selected Crimean War veterans to receive the new award for gallantry, the Victoria Cross, was made in the London Gazettes of 24th February 1857, 5th May 1857 and 23rd June 1857.

The first investiture of the Victoria Cross, made in person by Queen Victoria, was held in Hyde Park, London, on Friday, 26th June 1857. At the same time as recipients in England were being decorated, letters dated 26 June 1857 were sent to CinCs of various overseas stations, instructing them to confer the enclosed Crosses on the recipients under their command

No. Rank F Name L Name Service





AUSTRALIA
( GOC New South Wales, Sydney - March 1858 )
63. Sergeant John PARK 77th Reg ( Middlesex Regiment )
64. Private Alexander WRIGHT 77th Reg ( Middlesex Regiment )





BARBADOS
( Lieutenant General Sir A. J. Cloete - 5 August 1857 )
65. Major Hugh ROWLANDS 41st Reg ( Welch Regiment )





JAMAICA
( GOC Jamaica, Major General Edward Bell - 7 August 1857 )
66. Sergeant Major Ambrose MADDEN 41st Reg ( Welch Regiment )





CANADA
( Brigadier General Sir C. Trollope - 1 August 1857 )
67. Sergeant Philip SMITH 17th Reg ( Leicestershire Regiment )





CHINA
68. Colour Sergeant John PRETTYJOHN Royal Marine Light Infantry





CORFU
( GOC Ionian, Major General Sir George Buller - 22 July 1857 )
69. Lt Colonel Frederick MAUDE 3rd Reg ( East Kent Regiment )
70. Corporal Joseph CONNORS 3rd Reg ( East Kent Regiment )
71. Captain Thomas HAMILTON 68th Reg ( Durham Light Infantry )
72. Private John BYRNE 68th Reg ( Durham Light Infantry )





GIBRALTAR
( GOC Gibraltar, Lieutenant General Sir James Fergusson - 6 August 1857 )
73. Major Frederick ELTON 55th Reg ( Border Regiment )
74. Private Thomas BEACH 55th Reg ( Border Regiment )
75. Private Joseph PROSSER 1st Reg ( Royal Scots )





HONG KONG
( GOC Hong Kong, Lieutenant General T. Ashburton - 1857 )
76. Lieutenant Abraham LENNOX Royal Engineers
77. Private John ALEXANDER 90th Reg ( Cameronians )





INDIA
( Captain F. Markam - 13 July 1858 )
78. Lieutenant Edward DANIEL Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade )
79. Captain William PEEL Royal Navy ( Naval Brigade )





MALTA
( GOC Malta, Lieutenant General J. L. Pennefather - 1857 )
80. Private Charles MCCORRIE 57th Reg ( Middlesex Regiment )





ROYAL NAVY
presentations made onboard their respective ships
81. Lieutenant Cecil BUCKLEY Royal Navy - HMS 'Merlin'
82. Commander John COMMERELL Royal Navy - HMS 'Snake'
83. Lieutenant George DAY Royal Navy - HMS 'Firefly'
84. Capt Afterguard James GORMAN Royal Navy - HMS 'Elk'
85. Stoker William JOHNSTONE Royal Navy - by registered post
86. Chief Officer William RICKARD Royal Navy - HMS 'Weser'
87. Petty Officer Mark SCHOLEFIELD Royal Navy - East India Station
88. Boatswain John SHEPPARD Royal Navy - HMS 'Highflyer'
89. Chief Bosun's Mate John SULLIVAN Royal Navy - HMS 'Prometheous'





PRESENTATION LOCATION UNKNOWN
90. Private William STANLAKE Coldstream Guards
91. Capt Forecastle John TAYLOR Royal Navy

Further Crimean War Investitures

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Iain Stewart, 6 August 2009