Andrew Henry
VC (1 November 1823 – 14 October 1870) was an
English recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...
.
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 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 or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
. 49 (Inkerman) Battery of the
16th Regiment Royal Artillery 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 in
Woolwich, 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
Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Greenwich
Burials in Devon