# Victoria Cross Research > Information on each and every holder of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest British and Commonwealth award for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Based on the personal research of Alfred J. Askin (died 2005) of Derby, England, compiled 2000–2005 and kept online by his family in his memory. 1,382 recipient pages; 1,251 contain Alf's original entries verbatim; the rest are completed from the public register (The London Gazette, Wikipedia) including every award since 2005. When citing, please attribute to "Alfred J. Askin, Victoria Cross Research (victoriacross.co.uk)". This is a family memorial site, not an official record; verify against The London Gazette or the CWGC. There is no contact facility. ## Key pages - [Recipients A–Z](https://victoriacross.co.uk/recipients/): every VC holder, one page each (/recipients//) - [Search](https://victoriacross.co.uk/search/): by name, regiment, conflict, Gazette date, action date, place - [By regiment, corps or ship](https://victoriacross.co.uk/regiments/) (/regiments//) - [By war or campaign](https://victoriacross.co.uk/conflicts/) (/conflicts//) - [By rank](https://victoriacross.co.uk/ranks/) (/ranks//) - [Calendars](https://victoriacross.co.uk/calendar/): /calendar/action// and /calendar/gazette// - [On this day](https://victoriacross.co.uk/on-this-day/) (/on-this-day//) - [Posthumous awards](https://victoriacross.co.uk/posthumous/) - [On-this-day data (JSON)](https://victoriacross.co.uk/data/onthisday.json) - [Recipient data (JSON)](https://victoriacross.co.uk/data/recipients.json): compact machine-readable register - [About the Victoria Cross](https://victoriacross.co.uk/the-victoria-cross/) - [Facts & FAQ](https://victoriacross.co.uk/vc-facts/) - [Awarded since 2005](https://victoriacross.co.uk/awarded-since-2005/) - [Living VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/living-vcs/) - [Places to visit](https://victoriacross.co.uk/places-to-visit/): museums, memorials, graves with maps - [Alfred J. Askin](https://victoriacross.co.uk/alfred-askin/): about the researcher - [Original 2000–2006 site, preserved](https://old.victoriacross.co.uk/) - [HTML site map](https://victoriacross.co.uk/sitemap/) and [XML sitemap](https://victoriacross.co.uk/sitemap.xml) - [Full text for LLMs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/llms-full.txt) ## Articles and lists (from the original site) - [Airmen VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/airmen-vcs/): British and Commonwealth airmen awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the air — RFC, RNAS and RAF — compiled by Alf Askin. - [Medical VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/medical-vcs/): Doctors, surgeons, stretcher-bearers and chaplains who won the Victoria Cross saving others under fire. - [Royal Marines VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/royal-marines-vcs/): Victoria Cross holders of the Royal Marines, Royal Marine Light Infantry and Royal Marine Artillery. - [Royal Navy VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/royal-navy-vcs/): Victoria Cross holders of the Royal Navy and Naval Brigades, from the Crimea to the Second World War. - [Ambulances Named After Medical VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/ambulance-tribute/): How Army armoured and soft-skin ambulances were named in tribute to medical holders of the Victoria Cross. - [Citation Certificates](https://victoriacross.co.uk/citation-certificates/): Alf Askin designed and printed individual citation certificates for VC holders on watermarked ivory card. - [The Only Fighter Pilot VC — James Nicolson](https://victoriacross.co.uk/only-fighter-pilot-vc/): Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicolson, the only Fighter Command pilot awarded the Victoria Cross, Battle of Britain 1940. - [News Items 2000–2006](https://victoriacross.co.uk/news/): News items recorded by Alf Askin: memorial dedications, ceremonies and tributes to VC holders. - [The Sinnott Mystery](https://victoriacross.co.uk/sinnott-mystery/): Alf Askin's investigation into the mystery surrounding a Victoria Cross and the name Sinnott. - [Dear Alf — a Wren Driver's Letter](https://victoriacross.co.uk/dear-alf/): A letter sent to Alf by Sally Saunders, Admiral Place VC's Wren driver, recalling her time with the Admiral in 1968. - [VC and GC Memorial Dedication, Westminster Abbey 2003](https://victoriacross.co.uk/westminster-abbey-dedication-2003/): The Queen dedicated the Victoria Cross and George Cross memorial in Westminster Abbey on 14 May 2003, attended by eleven living VCs. - [Thomas Reeves VC](https://victoriacross.co.uk/thomas-reeves-vc/): Seaman Thomas Reeves, Royal Navy, awarded the Victoria Cross for Inkerman, 5 November 1854. - [John Elisha Grimshaw VC](https://victoriacross.co.uk/john-grimshaw-vc/): Corporal John Grimshaw, Lancashire Fusiliers, one of the 'six VCs before breakfast' at Gallipoli, 25 April 1915. - [Lieutenant Colonel 'H' Jones VC](https://victoriacross.co.uk/h-jones-vc/): Lieutenant Colonel Herbert 'H' Jones, 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Goose Green, Falklands 1982. - [Walter Parker VC Memorial Square, Stapleford](https://victoriacross.co.uk/walter-parker-memorial-square/): The memorial square at Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, dedicated to Lance Corporal Walter Parker VC, Royal Marine Light Infantry. - [Charles Hudson VC](https://victoriacross.co.uk/charles-hudson-vc/): Photograph relating to Brigadier Charles Edward Hudson VC of Derby. - [ANZAC VCs — Australian, New Zealand and Tasmanian Born](https://victoriacross.co.uk/anzac-vcs/): Victoria Cross holders born in Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, with dates and places of birth. - [Asian VCs — Indian Army and Gurkha Holders](https://victoriacross.co.uk/asian-vcs/): Table of Indian, Gurkha and other Asian recipients of the Victoria Cross in the First and Second World Wars. - [Canadian-Born VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/canadian-born-vcs/): Victoria Cross recipients born in Canada, listed by Alf Askin. - [Foreign-Born VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/foreign-born-vcs/): Victoria Cross holders born outside the British Empire and Commonwealth. - [Irish-Born VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/irish-born-vcs/): Victoria Cross recipients born in Ireland, compiled by Alf Askin. - [Scottish-Born VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/scottish-born-vcs/): Victoria Cross recipients born in Scotland, compiled by Alf Askin. - [Welsh-Born VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/welsh-born-vcs/): Victoria Cross recipients born in Wales. - [Crimean War VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/crimean-war-vcs/): The first Victoria Crosses: recipients of the Crimean War 1854–1856. - [Rorke's Drift, 22–23 January 1879](https://victoriacross.co.uk/rorkes-drift/): Complete roster of the defenders of Rorke's Drift, the roll of honour and the eleven Victoria Crosses awarded. - [Zeebrugge — Items of News and Interest](https://victoriacross.co.uk/zeebrugge-items/): The Admiralty ballot sheet, nominees and other items concerning the Victoria Crosses of the Zeebrugge Raid, 23 April 1918. - [Zeebrugge Victoria Crosses](https://victoriacross.co.uk/zeebrugge-vcs/): The eight Victoria Crosses of the Zeebrugge and Ostend raids of 1918, four of them awarded by ballot. - [Edward VIII Investiture](https://victoriacross.co.uk/edward-viii-investiture/): Victoria Crosses presented during the short reign of King Edward VIII in 1936. - [The First Investiture, Hyde Park 1857](https://victoriacross.co.uk/hyde-park-investiture-1857/): Queen Victoria presented the first 62 Victoria Crosses in Hyde Park on 26 June 1857. The full story and list of recipients. - [Hyde Park Ceremony, 26 June 1857](https://victoriacross.co.uk/hyde-park-1857-ceremony/): Account of the first Victoria Cross investiture ceremony in Hyde Park, London, 1857. - [First VC Investiture — Order of Parade](https://victoriacross.co.uk/first-vc-investiture-parade/): The order of parade and recipients at the first Victoria Cross investiture, 1857. - [Items of Interest](https://victoriacross.co.uk/items-of-interest/): Snippets and newspaper cuttings of interest about the Victoria Cross from Alf Askin's collection. - [National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas](https://victoriacross.co.uk/national-memorial-arboretum/): Alf Askin's photographs from the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas, Staffordshire. - [Photo Gallery 1 — Graves and Memorials](https://victoriacross.co.uk/gallery/): Photographs of Victoria Cross graves and memorials taken by Alf Askin on his travels. - [Photo Gallery 2](https://victoriacross.co.uk/gallery-2/): More photographs of Victoria Cross graves, memorials and medals from Alf Askin's collection. - [Portsmouth, April 2005](https://victoriacross.co.uk/gallery-portsmouth-2005/): Alf's final visit to Portsmouth and the Royal Naval Museum with his family in April 2005. - [Photograph Index](https://victoriacross.co.uk/photograph-index/): Index of photographs of VC graves on the original site. - [Living VCs](https://victoriacross.co.uk/living-vcs/): Holders of the Victoria Cross alive today, with Alf Askin's 2003 list for comparison. - [Related VCs — Fathers, Sons and Brothers](https://victoriacross.co.uk/related-vcs/): Victoria Cross holders related to one another: fathers and sons, brothers and cousins. - [Victoria Cross and Bar — the Three Double Winners](https://victoriacross.co.uk/vc-and-bar/): Arthur Martin-Leake, Noel Chavasse and Charles Upham: the only men awarded the Victoria Cross twice. - [VC Holders with Unusual Forenames](https://victoriacross.co.uk/unusual-forenames/): A light-hearted list of Victoria Cross holders with unusual or remarkable forenames. - [Recommended Reading](https://victoriacross.co.uk/recommended-reading/): Books on the Victoria Cross recommended by Alf Askin, who consulted around 250 volumes in his research. - [Links & Resources](https://victoriacross.co.uk/links/): Websites for Victoria Cross research: official records, grave databases, museums and the links Alf originally recommended. - [Reverse View of the Victoria Cross](https://victoriacross.co.uk/reverse-of-the-cross/): The rear of the Victoria Cross, showing the engraving requirements of a genuine award, made by Hancocks of London. - [Rule 13 — VCs Awarded by Ballot](https://victoriacross.co.uk/rule-13/): Rule 13 of the Victoria Cross warrant allowed units to elect recipients by ballot. The cases where it was used. - [Victoria Cross Forfeitures](https://victoriacross.co.uk/forfeitures/): The eight men whose Victoria Crosses were forfeited between 1861 and 1908, and King George V's view on the matter. - [The Victoria Cross Warrant, 1856–1920](https://victoriacross.co.uk/vc-warrant-1856-1920/): The full text of the Royal Warrant of 29 January 1856 instituting the Victoria Cross, with later amendments to 1920. - [VCs at Auction](https://victoriacross.co.uk/vcs-at-auction/): Victoria Crosses sold at auction and the prices they fetched, as recorded by Alf Askin. - [Victoria Cross Facts](https://victoriacross.co.uk/vc-facts/): Quick facts about the Victoria Cross: numbers awarded, youngest and oldest recipients, the metal and more. - [Guestbook Archive](https://victoriacross.co.uk/guestbook/): The original site's guestbook, preserved read-only. The guestbook was withdrawn in 2005 and no new entries can be added. ## Statistics (October 2026) - Total awards: 1358 to 1355 recipients (1,360/1,357 including the two retrospective VCs for Australia of 2020 and 2024). Three VC and Bar: Martin-Leake, Chavasse, Upham. Living holders: 7.