Timothy O'Hea
Private, 1st Battalion. Rifle Brigade
- Register No.
- 941 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. Rifle Brigade all Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 June 1866 on this day → all of 1866 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Campaign not recorded (—)
- London Gazette
- the 1st June 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Born
- in 1846 at Skull, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland
- Memorial / grave
- Danville Town Hall, Quebec and on the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral
Digest of citation
For conspicuous conduct, on the 19th June 1866, on the occasion of a fire on a railway car that contained 2000lbs of ammunition, between Quebec and Montreal. On the Grand trunk Railway, at Danville Station an alarm was given that a railway carriage was on fire. The sergeant, who had been holding the keys, had them taken from his hand by Private O'Hea, who then rushed to the car, and on opening it, called for water and a ladder. Due to his fine example the fire was suppressed
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
O'HEA, Timothy. (reg No. 941).
Private. 1st Battalion. Rifle Brigade * London Gazetted on the 1st June 1867.
Born in 1846 at Skull, Bantry, County Cork, Ireland. Disappeared in November 1876 in Sturt's Desert, Queensland, Australia.
Memorial in Danville Town Hall, Quebec and on the Rifle Brigade Memorial, Winchester Cathedral.
Digest of Citation reads: For conspicuous conduct, on the 19th June 1866, on the occasion of a fire on a railway car that contained 2000lbs of ammunition, between Quebec and Montreal. On the Grand trunk Railway, at Danville Station an alarm was given that a railway carriage was on fire. The sergeant, who had been holding the keys, had them taken from his hand by Private O'Hea, who then rushed to the car, and on opening it, called for water and a ladder. Due to his fine example the fire was suppressed.
* Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade.
Additional information:. As this act by Private 0'Hea was not performed against an enemy, he could not be originally awarded the Victoria Cross under Rule 5 of the Royal Warrant. However, on August 10th, 1858 a new clause was added to the Warrant,under which Private O'Hea was able to receive the award.
Additional information
As this act by Private 0'Hea was not performed against an enemy, he could not be originally awarded the Victoria Cross under Rule 5 of the Royal Warrant. However, on August 10th, 1858 a new clause was added to the Warrant,under which Private O'Hea was able to receive the award.
* Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade.
Disappeared in November 1876 in Sturt's Desert, Queensland, Australia.
Register note: Awarded under pre-1881 rules for actions in extreme danger, not in the enemy's presence
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Danville Town Hall, Quebec and 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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour Timothy O'Hea by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.