Claude Thomas Bourchier
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade. (Prince Consort's Own up)
- Register No.
- 110 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade. (Prince Consort's Own up) (register: Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)) all Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 November 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 22nd April 1831 at a Brayford, Devon
- Died
- 19th November 1877 at Brighton, Sussex
- Memorial / grave
- on the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
- Medal held by
- the Royal Green Jackets Museum
Digest of citation
On 20th November 1854 in the Crimea, Lieutenant Bourchier, with another Lieutenant * was with a party detailed to drive the Russians from some rifle pits. Advancing on the pits after dark they launched a surprise attack and drove the Russian Rifleman from their cover, but in the fierce fighting which ensued the officer in command of the party was killed. The two lieutenants, however, maintained their advantage, withstood all attacks from the enemy during the night and held the position until relieved the next day
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BOURCHIER, Claude Thomas. (Reg. No. 110).
Lieutenant . 1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade. (Prince Consort's Own up).
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Green Jackets Museum.
Born on 22nd April 1831 at a Brayford, Devon.
Died on 19th November 1877 at Brighton, Sussex.
Memorial on the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: On 20th November 1854 in the Crimea, Lieutenant Bourchier, with another Lieutenant * was with a party detailed to drive the Russians from some rifle pits. Advancing on the pits after dark they launched a surprise attack and drove the Russian Rifleman from their cover, but in the fierce fighting which ensued the officer in command of the party was killed. The two lieutenants, however, maintained their advantage, withstood all attacks from the enemy during the night and held the position until relieved the next day.
Additional information: He was ADC to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1869. He also held the Légion d'Honneur (France) and served in the Indian Mutiny.
Additional information
He was ADC to Her Majesty Queen Victoria in 1869. He also held the Légion d'Honneur (France) and served in the Indian Mutiny.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
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.
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