John Byrne
Private, 68th Regiment. (Durham Light Infantry)
- Register No.
- 163 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 68th Regiment. (Durham Light Infantry) (register: 68th Regiment of Foot) all 68th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 5 November 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- in September 1832 at Castlecomer, Kilkenny, Ireland
- Died
- 10th July 1879 at Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales
- Memorial / grave
- unmarked grave in St Woolo's cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire
Digest of citation
On 5th November 1854 in the Crimea, at the Battle of Inkerman, when the regiment was ordered to retire, Private Byrne went back towards the enemy, and, at the risk of his own life, brought in a wounded soldier, under fire. On 11th May, 1855 he bravely engaged in hand-to-hand contest with one of the enemy on the parapet of the work he was defending, prevented the entrance and the enemy, killed his antagonist, and captured his arms
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BYRNE, John. (reg No. 163).
Private 68th Regiment. (Durham Light Infantry)
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on in September 1832 at Castlecomer, Kilkenny, Ireland.
Died on 10th July 1879 at Caerleon, Monmouthshire, Wales.
Memorial at unmarked grave in St Woolo's cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 5th November 1854 in the Crimea, at the Battle of Inkerman, when the regiment was ordered to retire, Private Byrne went back towards the enemy, and, at the risk of his own life, brought in a wounded soldier, under fire. On 11th May, 1855 he bravely engaged in hand-to-hand contest with one of the enemy on the parapet of the work he was defending, prevented the entrance and the enemy, killed his antagonist, and captured his arms.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: unmarked grave in St Woolo's cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire
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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