List of cavalry recipients of the Victoria Cross
Name Regiment Date Conflict Location
Herman Albrecht Imperial Light Horse 6 January 1900 Second Boer War Ladysmith
Charles Anderson 2nd Dragoon Guards ( Queen 's Bays ) 8 October 1858 Indian Mutiny Sundeela Oudh
William Bankes 7th ( The Queen 's Own ) Light Dragoons 19 March 1858 Indian Mutiny Lucknow
William Beresford 9th ( Queen 's Royal ) Lancers 3 July 1879 Anglo-Zulu War White Umfolozi River
John Berryman 17th ( Duke of Cambridge 's Own ) Lancers 25 October 1854 Crimean War Balaclava
James Blair 2nd Bombay Light Cavalry 12 August 1857 23 October 1857 Indian Mutiny Neemuch Jeerum
Robert Blair 2nd Dragoon Guards ( Queen 's Bays ) 28 September 1857 Indian Mutiny Bolandshahr
Edward Brown 14th ( King 's ) Hussars 13 October 1900 Second Boer War Geluk
Sam Browne 2nd Punjab Irregular Cavalry 31 August 1858 Indian Mutiny Seerporah
Thomas Byrne 21st ( Empress of India 's ) Lancers 2 September 1898 Mahdist War Omdurman
Adrian Carton de Wiart 4th ( Royal Irish ) Dragoon Guards 2-3 July 1916 First World War La Boiselle
James Champion 8th ( The King 's Royal Irish ) Light Dragoons 8 September 1858 Indian Mutiny Beejapore
George Clare 5th ( Royal Irish ) Lancers 28-29 November 1917 First World War Bourlon Wood
John Clements Rimington 's Guides 24 February 1901 Second Boer War Strijdenburg
Hampden Cockburn Royal Canadian Dragoons 7 November 1900 Second Boer War Komati River
Harry Crandon 18th Hussars 4 July 1901 Second Boer War Springbok Laagte
Thomas Crean Imperial Light Horse 18 December 1901 Second Boer War Tygerkloof Spruit
John Danaher Nourse 's Horse ( Transvaal ) 16 January 1881 First Boer War Elandsfontein
Henry D'Arcy Frontier Light Horse 3 July 1879 Anglo-Zulu War White Umfolozi River
Patrick Donohoe 9th ( Queen 's Royal ) Lancers 28 September 1857 Indian Mutiny Bolandshahr
Cavalry recipients
The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration that may be bestowed upon members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces for acts of valour or gallantry performed in the face of the enemy. Within the British honours system and those of many Commonwealth nations it is the highest award a soldier can receive for actions in combat. It was established in 1856 and since then has been awarded 1,356 times, including three service personnel who were awarded the VC twice. The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins. The original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not officially awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men. The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous. Due to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auction.