John Bythesea
Lieutenant, Royal Navy
- Register No.
- 165 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Royal Navy (register: HMS Arrogant) all HMS Arrogant VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 August 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 15th June, 1827 at Freshford, Somerset
- Died
- 18th May 1906 at South Kensington, London
- Memorial / grave
- Bath Abbey Cemetery and Freshford Church, Somerset
- Medal held by
- the Royal Naval Museum
Digest of citation
On 9th August, 1854 in the Baltic, Lieutenant Bythesea of HMS Arrogant obtained permission to land on the island of Wardo with a stoker* from the ship, in order to intercept important despatches from the Csar which were being sent via Wardo to Bomarsund. The two men spent two nights reconnoitering the island and on 12th August when the despatches arrived, they ambushed the five Russians carrying them. Two of the carrier's dropped there mailbags and ran, but the other three surrendered and were taken back to Arrogant. In this action the officer and stoker were armed with just one pistol
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BYTHESEA, John. (reg No. 165)
Lieutenant Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Naval Museum.
Born on 15th June, 1827 at Freshford, Somerset.
Died on 18th May 1906 at South Kensington, London.
Memorial at Bath Abbey Cemetery and Freshford Church, Somerset.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th August, 1854 in the Baltic, Lieutenant Bythesea of HMS Arrogant obtained permission to land on the island of Wardo with a stoker* from the ship, in order to intercept important despatches from the Csar which were being sent via Wardo to Bomarsund. The two men spent two nights reconnoitering the island and on 12th August when the despatches arrived, they ambushed the five Russians carrying them. Two of the carrier's dropped there mailbags and ran, but the other three surrendered and were taken back to Arrogant. In this action the officer and stoker were armed with just one pistol * See W Johnstone (reg No. 648)
Additional information:. Rear-Admiral Bythesea was also a Companion (of the Order) of the Bath and a Companion (of the Order) of the Indian Empire. He was the Consulting Naval Officer to the Indian Government, 1874-80.
Updated:15.1.03
Additional information
Rear-Admiral Bythesea was also a Companion (of the Order) of the Bath and a Companion (of the Order) of the Indian Empire. He was the Consulting Naval Officer to the Indian Government, 1874-80. Updated:15.1.03
* See W Johnstone (reg No. 648)
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Bath Abbey Cemetery and Freshford Church, Somerset
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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