File:A Modern copper alloy Victoria Cross medal dated 5th November 1854 (FindID 763990).jpg

English: An incomplete Post Medieval copper alloy (bronze 'gunmetal') Victoria Cross medal dated 5^th November 1854. This medal has been cast in the shape of an equal-armed cross with a central circular section. Each arm is angular and sharply flares outwards. There is a semi-circular tab projecting from the outer edge of the uppermost arm. This tab is perforated for suspension. The obverse of the medal is decorated in high-relief with a standing lion facing left with the tail curving over its back. The lion has a crown on its head. Below the lion is a crown in the centre of the cross and below that is the curving banner with the inscription "FOR VALOUR". There is a double linear border that follows the edges of the arms of the cross. There is a similar linear border on the reverse and two concentric rings in the centre. The date "5 NOV / 1854" is engraved within these rings.

The suspension ring, suspension bar and ribbon are missing from this medal. The name of the recipient of the medal would have been engraved on the bar.

Discussion:

Origin of Victoria Cross Medals

Victoria Cross medals were first made in 1856 and the earliest examples were backdated to 1854. They were created in response to the extreme bravery from all ranks during the Crimean War. The obverses are all the same and the reverses are stamped with the date of the battle which saw the action that earnt the Victoria Cross. This medal was awarded for actions during the Battle of Inkerman on the 5^th November 1854.

Locations of Victoria Cross Medals

There are lists published in various sources that detail the recipients of the Victoria Cross medals. One of these sources is the notebook from Hancocks (the company who have responsibility for the creation of all Victoria Crosses). Most of these lists suggest 16 Victoria Crosses were awarded for the Battle of Inkerman. The Hancocks' notebook lists actions for the date 5^th November 1854 23 times. Of those 23, 7 are listed with other dates for an individual. If a soldier performs two VC worthy actions on different dates then the soldier receives a bar (a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of the original VC). Only three bars have been issued since the creation of the Victoria Cross medal. None of these have been for the Crimean War. However there are examples of VCs being engraved with more than one date but there is no consistent pattern for this.

There are also lists describing the locations of the Victoria Cross medals. There are two medals from the Battle of Inkerman where the locations are unknown. These belonged to Private John Byrne of the 68^th (Durham) Light Infantry and Private John McDermond of the 47^th (The Lancashire) Regiment. The other medals are either in public collections, such as museum, private collections or believed to be with families. It is uncertain how often the location of the medals in private collections or with the families is checked.

Possible Recipients of the Thames Victoria Cross

Private John Byrne of the 68^th (Durham) Light Infantry

Private Byrne (1832-1879) was Irish, joined the army aged 17, and was highly decorated with VC worthy actions at Inkerman and Sebastopol. Byrne took his own life after shooting a man who insulted the VC. A contemporary newspaper report writes that Byrne threw his VC medal onto the table during a discussion with his landlady in the days preceding his death.

Private John McDermond of the 47^th (The Lancashire) Regiment

Private McDermond (1832-1868) was Scottish, joined his regiment aged 14 and was invalided out of the army due to an ankle injury, he then suffered ill health due to typhus and after that his records are difficult to trace. The name is relatively common. A John McDermond was in a poorhouse and is buried in an unmarked grave in Paisley, just outside Glasgow.

Consultation and Analysis

Mark Smith, Curator, Royal Artillery Firepower Museum and medal specialist and David Callaghan, Retired Director, Hancocks were both consulted over the authenticity of the medal and also methods to ascertain the original recipient. They commented that it was impossible to confirm just by visual study whether it was authentic or a replica. David Callaghan also commented that it would be very difficult to narrow down the recipient as there were too many uncertainties. For example, replicas were made using the right metal and by Hancocks to replace medals that were lost or stolen so there may be two medals in circulation for the same VC action. The results of PXRF analysis will be published shortly.