John Farrell (VC)

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John Farrell VC (b. March 1826 in Dublin, d. 31 August 1865) was a soldier and Irish 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.

He was a Sergeant in the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 25 October 1854 at Balaclava, Crimea (Charge of the Light Brigade), Sergeant Farrell, whose horse had been killed under him, stopped on the field and amidst a storm of shot and shell helped a troop sergeant major (John Berryman) and another sergeant (Joseph Malone) to move a severely wounded officer (who subsequently died) out of range of the guns.

He later achieved the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant.

He was killed in action, Secunderabad, India, on 31 August 1865.

[edit] References

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
• Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)