How many black people have won a VC?
Michael Green
Published Mar 30, 2026
The Victoria Cross (VC), the Armed Forces' highest award for valour, has been awarded to four Afro-Caribbean service personnel. First in 1857, William Hall of the Navy, most recently Sergeant Johnson Beharry, from Grenada, in 2004.
Has an American ever won a VC?
There have been 1355 individual recipients including the American unknown who is not listed but the list has 1356 names including Alfred John Shout and another listed twice.Who was the first black recipient of the Victoria Cross?
William Hall was the first Black person, the first Nova Scotian and one of the first Canadians to receive the British Empire's highest award for bravery, the Victoria Cross. The son of former American slaves, Hall was born in 1827 at Horton, Nova Scotia, where he also attended school.Has a woman ever won the VC?
Elizabeth Webber Harris (1834–1917) was an English nurse who was awarded a replica Victoria Cross (VC) in 1869, with the permission of Queen Victoria, for her bravery during a cholera outbreak in India. She remains the only woman to be awarded a VC of any description.How many South Africans have won the VC?
However, on the basis of the "unit in which served" as denoting the nationality of the award, I consider the following to be the 28 South African V.C. recipients(1): Corporal F. C. Schiess, Natal Native Contingent, 22/1/1879, Zulu War, Rorke's Drift."The bravest man never to have been awarded the VC"
Which regiment has the most VC?
The Royal Artillery is the corps that has won the highest number of Victoria Crosses since its institution. This unit has won the Victoria Cross 51 times, the Royal Engineers have won the Victoria Cross 41 times and the Royal Army Medical Corps which won the Victoria Cross 27 times.How much is a VC medal worth?
Because of its rarity, the VC is highly prized, and the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auctions. A number of public and private collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one tenth of all Victoria Crosses awarded.Has anyone won 2 Victoria Crosses?
The only soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) twice during World War One was a solider, an Olympic athlete and a doctor. Captain Noel Chavasse was born in Oxford and is one of only three men to win the medal twice since it became the highest award for gallantry in 1856.Do you salute a VC winner?
There is no official requirement that appears in the official Warrant of the VC, nor in Queen's Regulations and Orders, but tradition dictates that this occurs and as such the Chiefs of Staff will salute a Private awarded a VC or GC.Who is the youngest VC?
Who was the youngest VC winner? Did you know? The youngest winner of the VC was 15 years and three months old. Hospital Apprentice Andrew Fitzgibbon, Indian Medical Establishment, won the VC on 21 August 1860 at the storming of the North Taku fort during the Second China War (1857-62).How many Canadians have won the VC?
Historical notes. The recipient's rank, name and regiment are engraved on the reverse of the mounting bar. There have been 1,351 Victoria Crosses and three Bars awarded worldwide, 99 to Canadians (Canadian-born, serving in the Canadian Army or having a close link to Canada).Who was the last Canadian to be awarded the Victoria Cross?
Hugh Cairns, VCDuring the First World War, Sergeant Cairns was the last Canadian soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for bravery among troops of the British Empire.