Andrew Henry VC (1 November 1823 – 14 October 1870) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

VC action

Henry received the second Victoria Cross awarded to the Royal Regiment of Artillery for successfully defending his gun at the

Battle of Inkerman The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on 5 November 1854 between the allied armies of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Britain and Second French Empire, France against the Imperial Russian Empire, Russian Army. Th ...

against heavy odds. Although severely wounded for this action he was also commissioned in the field. He was at the time of the action a sergeant major of 'G' Battery Royal Artillery when on a foggy November morning in 1854 Russian troops launched a surprise attack on the British lines and quickly surrounded the Battery. Soon Sgt Andrew Henry was the only British soldier left. With his sword in one arm and using the other to pull a bayonet from his leg he fought valiantly. Sgt Henry received twelve bayonet wounds but lived to receive the Victoria Cross.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. 49 (Inkerman) Battery of the

16th Regiment Royal Artillery 16 Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the air defence role and is equipped with the Sky Sabre air defence missile system. One of its Rapier Batteries is always d ...

is named for the battle of the same name which took place during the Crimean War.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the

Royal Artillery Museum The Royal Artillery Museum, which was one of the world's oldest military museums, was first opened to the public in Woolwich in southeast London in 1820. It told the story of the development of artillery through the ages by way of a collection o ...

Woolwich Woolwich () is a district in southeast London, England, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. The district's location on the River Thames led to its status as an important naval, military and industrial area; a role that was maintained throu ...

, London.

References

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Devonshire)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Henry, Andrew British recipients of the Victoria Cross Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross British Army personnel of the Crimean War Royal Artillery officers Royal Artillery soldiers People from Woolwich 1823 births 1870 deaths British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross