The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in January 1856. How many people won the VC before that date?

SOTHC

The first VC was actually awarded to Charles Lucas for action aboard HMS Hecla at Bomarsund on the 21st June 1854 but it was not gazetted until 1857. Source Shell Book of Firsts. http://www.antiquesatoz.com/stephenherold/vc/vclist06.htm gives a list of recipients with dates Jul 06 06, 10:45 AM

SOTHC

http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/aainves1.htm gives the names of the 62 recipients at the first The first investiture of the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria held in Hyde Park, London, on Friday, 26th June 1857. Jul 06 06, 10:50 AM

kirkoverpicard

Uh...the Victoria Cross didnt exist before 1856... Believe it or not, 1351 peeps have achieved it (4 other VC's were awarded this way: 3 to people who had already won it, and one for the UNKNOWN AMERICAN SOLDIER of WWI, so technically, 1355 VC's are out there) Jul 06 06, 10:56 AM

davejacobs

One hundred and eleven, actually! Although not created until 1856, it was applied retroactively so that the heroes of the Crimean War could be honoured. In total 111 VCs were awarded for acts of heroism performed in 1854 and 1855. Their names are listed here: http://www.batteryb.com/Crimean_War/crimea-vcs.html Jul 07 06, 4:28 AM