Charles Davis Lucas
Mate, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 753 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Mate (register: Boatswain's Mate) all Boatswain's Mates →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Hecla) all HMS Hecla VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 June 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February, 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 19th February, 1834 at Drumargole, Armagh, Ireland
- Died
- 7th August, 1914 at Great Culverden, Kent
- Memorial / grave
- at St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth, Kent
- Medal held by
- the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich
Digest of citation
On 21st June, 1854 in the Baltic, HMS Hecla, with two other ships, was bombarding Bomarsund, a fort in the Aland Islands. The fire was returned from the shore, and at the height of the action a live shell landed on the Hecla's upper deck, with its fuse still hissing. All hands were ordered to fling themselves flat on the deck, but Mr Lucas with great presence of mind ran forward and hurled the shell into the sea, where it exploded with a tremendous roar before it hit the water. Thanks to Mr Lucas's action no one was killed or seriously wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
LUCAS, Charles Davis. (reg No. 753).
Mate. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 24th February, 1857.
VC Medal's custodian is the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.
Born on 19th February, 1834 at Drumargole, Armagh, Ireland.
Died on 7th August, 1914 at Great Culverden, Kent.
Memorial on grave at St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st June, 1854 in the Baltic, HMS Hecla, with two other ships, was bombarding Bomarsund, a fort in the Aland Islands. The fire was returned from the shore, and at the height of the action a live shell landed on the Hecla's upper deck, with its fuse still hissing. All hands were ordered to fling themselves flat on the deck, but Mr Lucas with great presence of mind ran forward and hurled the shell into the sea, where it exploded with a tremendous roar before it hit the water. Thanks to Mr Lucas's action no one was killed or seriously wounded.
Additional information:. Mr Lucas was later to become a Rear-Admiral. He was the first person, since the inception of the Victoria Cross on 29th January 1856, to perform an act of gallantry and be awarded the prestigious medal. As a Brigadier-General in 1873-83, he commanded the Ballachulish Corps in Scotland.
Additional information
Mr Lucas was later to become a Rear-Admiral He was the first person, since the inception of the Victoria Cross on 29th January 1856, to perform an act of gallantry and be awarded the prestigious medal. As a Brigadier-General in 1873-83, he commanded the Ballachulish Corps in Scotland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Lawrence's Church, Mereworth, Kent
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Charles Davis Lucas by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.