Charles Davis Lucas
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Charles Davis Lucas VC (born Druminargal House, Scarva, County Armagh, 19 February 1834 - Great Culverden, Kent, 7 August 1914) was the first recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
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[edit] Details
He was 20 years old, and a mate in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 June 1854 in the Baltic, HMS Hecla, with two other ships, was bombarding Bomarsund, a fort in the Åland Islands off of Finland. The fire was returned from the shore, and at the height of the action a live shell landed on Hecla's upper deck, with its fuse still hissing. All hands were ordered to fling themselves flat on the deck, but Mr. Lucas with great presence of mind ran forward and hurled the shell into the sea, where it exploded with a tremendous roar before it hit the water. Thanks to Mr. Lucas's action no one was killed or seriously wounded and he was immediately promoted to Lieutenant by his Commanding Officer.
[edit] Further information
The first act of bravery to be rewarded with the VC. He later achieved the rank of rear-admiral. He died Great Culverden, Kent, 7 August 1914. Memorial: St Lawrence Church, Mereworth, Maidstone
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Maritime Museum (Greenwich, England).
[edit] References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
