Luke O'Connor
Sergeant, 23rd Regiment
- Register No.
- 939 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 23rd Regiment (register: Royal Welch Fusiliers) all Royal Welsh Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 20 September 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 21st January 1831 at Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland
- Died
- 1st February 1915 at London
- Memorial / grave
- at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Rise, London. Also a portrait in the Royal Horse Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon
Digest of citation
At the Battle of Alma, in the Crimea, on 20th September 1884, Sergeant O'CONNOR advanced between two officers, one of them, Lieutenant Anstruther, was carrying the Regimental Colour when he was mortally wounded, Sergeant O'CONNOR was shot in the breast at the same time, he fell, but recovered himself, picked up the Colour from the ground and carried it, in spite of his wound, to the end of the action. He was urged to relinquish it several times, because of his wound, by Captain Granville. He also, on the 8th September, 1855 behaved with utmost gallantry at the assault on the Redan where he received shot wounds through both thighs
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
O'CONNOR, Luke. (reg No. 939).
Sergeant. 23rd Regiment * London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on 21st January 1831 at Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland.
Died on 1st February 1915 at London.
Memorial on grave at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Rise, London. Also a portrait in the Royal Horse Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon.
Digest of Citation reads: At the Battle of Alma, in the Crimea, on 20th September 1884, Sergeant O'CONNOR advanced between two officers, one of them, Lieutenant Anstruther, was carrying the Regimental Colour when he was mortally wounded, Sergeant O'CONNOR was shot in the breast at the same time, he fell, but recovered himself, picked up the Colour from the ground and carried it, in spite of his wound, to the end of the action. He was urged to relinquish it several times, because of his wound, by Captain Granville. He also, on the 8th September, 1855 behaved with utmost gallantry at the assault on the Redan where he received shot wounds through both thighs.
* Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Additional information:. He joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1849, aged 17, becoming a Sergeant the following year. In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the Crimean Medal with two clasps, the Sardinian and Turkish Medals as well as the Turkish Medal of Medjidie, 5th Class. He received the Victoria Cross from her Majesty Queen Victoria at the ceremony in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1855, promoted Captain in August 1858, and in 1873 to Major. He took part in Sir Garnet Wolseley's Campaign to Kumasi, after which he was made a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, along with the Medal and clasp. He took command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers on 24th June 1884.. In 1886, with the rank of Colonel, he went on half pay. After being granted the Distinguished Service Reward, he retired as a Major-General on 2nd March 1887. He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1900 and a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1913. He died, at the age of 84, after suffering for some time, on 1st February 1915.
Additional information
He joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1849, aged 17, becoming a Sergeant the following year. In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the Crimean Medal with two clasps, the Sardinian and Turkish Medals as well as the Turkish Medal of Medjidie, 5th Class. He received the Victoria Cross from her Majesty Queen Victoria at the ceremony in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1855, promoted Captain in August 1858, and in 1873 to Major. He took part in Sir Garnet Wolseley's Campaign to Kumasi, after which he was made a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, along with the Medal and clasp. He took command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers on 24th June 1884.. In 1886, with the rank of Colonel, he went on half pay. After being granted the Distinguished Service Reward, he retired as a Major-General on 2nd March 1887. He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1900 and a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1913. He died, at the age of 84, after suffering for some time, on 1st February 1915.
* Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Rise, London. Also a portrait in the Royal Horse Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon
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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