From the VC&GC Association website. The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856. It was created by Royal Warrant, signed on 29th January, and Her Majesty took a great personal interest in all the detail surrounding it including the design of the medal itself.

The Royal Warrant for the institution of the Victoria Cross made no provision for it to be awarded posthumously. However, in 1902 an exception was made for six men who had died as a result of the gallant action during the Boer War. Thereafter, in 1907, six more individuals who had died in earlier campaigns were posthumously recognised. It had been stated in the Memorandum in the London Gazette, at the time that the death of each had been reported, that had they lived they would have been awarded the Victoria Cross. Thereafter, the award was made posthumously as well as to the living and the Royal Warrant was amended in 1920 to allow for this. However, the Royal Warrant did make provision for ballots to be held to nominate an individual to be awarded. Until 1918 this method for nomination was used when a Company had performed in a particularly heroic manner and wished to elect one of their number to be put up for the award. In the Indian Mutiny 46 were elected to receive the Victoria Cross under these circumstances.

Provision was also made in the Royal Warrant for forfeiture of the award. Initially any holder who was convicted of a criminal offence lost the award by this provision - eight men so did. However, it is well known from a letter written by his Private Secretary, Lord Stamfordham, on 26th July 1920, that King George V "feels so strongly that, no matter what the crime committed by anyone on whom the Victoria Cross has been conferred, the decoration should not be forfeited. Even were a Victoria Cross to be sentenced to be hanged for murder, he should be allowed to wear the Victoria Cross on the scaffold." This 1908 power to cancel and restore awards, although still included in the Royal Warrant that instituted the Victoria Cross, it has not been exercised. 

Victor Buller Turner VC CVO (1900-1972) 

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Was born on 17th January 1900 in Reading, Berkshire, the son of Major Charles Turner of the Royal Berkshire Regiment and his second wife, Jane Elizabeth, only daughter of Admiral Sir Alexander Buller. He was the younger brother of Alexander Buller Turner VC and was also related to General Sir Redvers Buller VC.

Turner was educated at Parkside School, Surrey, Wellington College, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before being commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the Rifle Brigade in 1918. He served in the campaign in Iraq in 1919–20, was promoted Major in 1938 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1942 while serving in the Middle-East, before the action in which he was awarded the VC.

On 27th October 1942, at El Aqqaqir, Western Desert, Egypt, during the Second Battle of El Alamein, Lieutenant Colonel Turner was commanding a battalion of the Rifle Brigade. After overcoming a German position, the battalion fought off desperate counter-attacks by 90 tanks, destroying or immobilising more than 50 of them. During the action, one of the 6-pounder guns was left with only one officer and a sergeant, so Colonel Turner joined them as loader, and between them they destroyed another five tanks. Not until the last tank had been repulsed did he consent to having a wound in his head attended to.

He was gazetted for the VC on 20th November 1942, and lived at Thatcham House before moving to Norfolk after the war and retired from the army in 1949. In 1950 was appointed to the Royal Household, with a post in the ceremonial King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard and rose to be "Clerk of the Cheque and Adjutant" of the Guard in 1955. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1966 in connection with his services to the Royal Household and was promoted to Lieutenant of the Queen's Bodyguard in 1967.

Victor Buller Turner died on 7th August 1972 in Ditchingham, Norfolk and was cremated at St Faith’s Crematorium, Norwich. His ashes were interred at St Mary’s Churchyard, Ditchingham, Norfolk. His medals including his VC, CVO, General Service Medal 1918-62, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45 and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 are held and displayed by the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, Hampshire.

BURIAL PLACE: ST MARYS CHURCH, DITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK (ASHES INTERRED). .

David Rushe VC (28 April 1827 – 6 November 1886).  

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Rushe was 30 years old, and a troop sergeant-major in the 9th Lancers (The Queen's Royal), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC for:

'conspicuous bravery, near Lucknow, on the 19th of March, 1858, in having, in company with one other private of the troop, attacked eight of the enemy, who had posted themselves in a nullah, and killed three of them. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 8th April, 1858.'

Rushe received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860. This joined his medals for the 1st and 2nd Sikh Wars and the Indian Mutiny. He also received the Good Conduct Medal and the Long Service Medal.

From VCOnline.org.uk  David Rushe (1827-1886) was born in Woburn, Bedfordshire on 28th April 1827, and he joined the 9th Lancers at the age of 18, taking part in the First and Second Sikh Wars. Little else is known about his military career prior to his actions at Lucknow on the 18th March 1858.

There is very little other information in his citation (published on 24th December 1858) which adds to this description.

After receiving his VC from Queen Victoria he was promoted to regimental sergeant-major. He died on 6th November 1886 at his home in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire and he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in All Saints Churchyard, Marlow. His medals were sold by his widow after his death, but were eventually recovered by his family in 1959. The medals are still owned by the Rushe family, but have been loaned to the 9th/12th Lancers Regimental Museum, Derby Art Museum and Gallery since 2011.

He was appointed to the Body Guard in 1867 and thirteen years later was described as a brewer's clerk living in Great Marlow with his Irish wife and six children.  In 1885 he is was serving in the Second Division. 

Stephen Garvin VC, DCM (1826 – 23 November 1874)

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He was around 31 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 23 June 1857 at Delhi, India for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

'For daring and gallant conduct before Delhi on the 23rd of June, 1857, in volunteering to lead a small party of men, under a heavy fire, to the "Sammy House," for the purpose of dislodging a number of the Enemy in position there, who kept up a destructive fire on the advanced battery of heavy guns, in which, after a sharp contest, he succeeded. Also recommended for gallant conduct throughout the operations before Delhi.'

From VCOnline.org.uk Stephen Garvin (1826-1874) was born in 1826 in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland. He enlisted with the 1st Battalion of the 60th Rifles in c. 1844, and served in the Punjab between 1848-49, earning the campaign medal with two clasps for Mooltan and Goojerat.

He was then engaged in service on the North West Frontier (awarded the Indian General Service Medal), and was promoted to Colour Sergeant. On the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in Meerut in 1857, Garvin’s battalion was sent to fight in the Siege of Delhi. On the 23rd June 1857, a group of mutineers were using the Sammy House as a base to open fire on the advanced battery of heavy guns. Garvin volunteered to lead a small party of men to attack the Sammy House and clear out the enemy. After a short engagement, Garvin succeeded in clearing out the house. He was also recommended for the VC for other gallant actions throughout the Siege.

Garvin was recommended for, and was awarded the Victoria Cross on 20th January 1860. Garvin was presented with his medal by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on the 9th November 1860. Garvin returned to India for a time, before retiring and taking his pension. He returned to England and settled in Cambridgeshire. Garvin died aged 48 on 23rd November 1874 in Chesterton, Cambridgeshire and was laid to rest in St Andrew’s Churchyard.

Garvin’s medals were listed for sale for £1500 in 1969, and remained in private ownership until 2014. On 19th September 2014, at an auction sale at Dix Noonan Webb in London, Garvin’s medals were purchased by the Michael Ashcroft Trust for a hammer price of £190,000, and are now displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum.  Location of medals : LORD ASHCROFT GALLERY, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, LONDON.

David Spence (1818-1877) 

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Spence was born in 1818 in Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland, to Robert Spence, a mason, and Agnes Anderson. David married Elspet Mathieson in 1835, when he was just 17 and Elspet was 16. They went on to have 12 children, though during their 16 years of absence in India, tragically, only three survived. Noted as a blacksmith on the marriage register, David entered the 42nd Regiment, based in Aberdeen, soon after. He enlisted in the 9th Lancers Regiment in Belfast on 31 May 1838.

In 1842, having experienced the tragedy of losing two children in infancy, the couple moved to India with the regiment, leaving their son Robert in Scotland to be cared for by Elspet’s grandmother. David fought in the Gwalior Campaign and was present at the battle of Punniar on 29 December 1843. He was promoted to sergeant in January 1843.

David took part in the First Anglo-Sikh War (Sutlej Campaign) in which the 9th Lancers lost just two men, and was present at the fierce and decisive battle of Sobraon on 10 February 1846, when heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. This forced the Sikh Empire into a settlement with the East India Company at the Treaty of Lahore in 1846.

In February 1848, David was promoted to troop sergeant major and took part in the Passage of the Chenab on 4 December 1848, and the bloody battles at Goojerat and Chillianwallah, under command of General Sir James Hope Grant, GCB. In October 1850, David resigned his rank of sergeant, and in July 1851 was again promoted to troop sergeant major. It’s thought that David stayed in India with the regiment over the next few years, with his whereabouts traced by the births of his and Elspet’s children.

The outbreak of the Indian Rebellion in May 1857 meant that plans for a summer in the Himalayan mountains for Elspet and Agnes, their only remaining child in India, were cancelled. David was present at the early battle of Badli-ke-Serai on the 8 June 1857, and remained in Delhi throughout the siege, including the assault and capture of the city on 14 September 1857.

Such was the reported barbarity of the sepoys in their treatment of captured British women and children, most notably at the Siege of Cawnpore, that the British retaliated and were nicknamed ‘The Devil’s Wind’, due to their thirst for revenge.

On 17 January 1858, under Sir James Hope Grant, the 9th Lancers were sent, along with other regiments, to attack a column of 10,000 rebels. Marching all night, they found the enemy at 8am posted at the village of Sutia, half a mile from Shumshabad. As soon as the rebels saw them, they opened fire.

During this battle, Spence seems to have got separated from his men after a charge, and on hearing a cry for help, saw his comrade, Private Kidd, lying wounded and pinned beneath his disabled horse, surrounded by a ring of rebels. Spence did not hesitate for a second: his Lance point dropped and his spurs kicked home, and he crashed down upon the sepoys at a gallop. Alone and outnumbered, Spence cut his way to the wounded man, extricated him from his position beneath the wounded charger and finally, and at great risk to his own life, brought him to safety.

David returned to Lucknow with the regiment for a third time during August 1858. In the battles and charges in Lucknow, the 9th Lancers gained three more VCs, a total of 12 awarded to the regiment for actions in the Indian Rebellion.

David, Elspet, their only surviving daughter, Agnes, and the regiment embarked at Calcutta in April 1859. Five months later, on 4 September 1859, after 17 years and 122 days in India, they arrived in Britain, off Spithead. David was promoted to regimental sergeant major in October 1859, and was presented with the VC by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in January 1860.

On 13 October 1862, age 44, he was discharged from the 9th Lancers in Brighton, Sussex, at his own request. David Spence was appointed to Her Majesty’s Bodyguard in 1862 as a Yeoman of the Guard. The family moved to Falmouth, Cornwall, where David was employed as a mounted coastguard and began to adapt back to civilian life.

In 1864, Elspet died of pneumonia and typhoid fever, age 45, and was buried in Falmouth. Six months after the death of his wife, David married Mary Pascoe (pictured, seated), an innkeeper’s daughter from Falmouth, then pregnant with twins. They went on to have nine children. Mary lived a long life, and died in 1937. On 17 April 1877, David, age 59, collapsed in the street and died of a heart attack. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Lambeth Cemetery. In March 2017, following work by the Victoria Cross Trust, his grave will be marked with a headstone. His medals are held by the 9th/12th Lancers Museum, Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

Robert William Kells (1832-1905) 

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Kells was born the son of a serving soldier on 7th April 1832 in Meerut, India, where his father was on active service. Destined to be a soldier, Robert was just 12 years and 9 months old when he was attested as a boy soldier into the 9th Lancers. He took part in the Second Sikh War and was present at the Battles of Chillianwala and Gujarat.

He was promoted to Lance-Corporal and in 1857, found himself still in India when the Mutiny broke out. The outbreak of the Indian Mutiny found the 9th Lancers at Ambala where its four squadrons were divided between the 1st and 2nd Brigades of the Delhi Field Force, which, having effected a junction with Brigadier Archdale Wilson's Meerut Brigade, routed the mutineers at Badli-ki-Serai, and established itself on Delhi Ridge. After three months gruelling service on the Ridge culminating in the Fall of Delhi, the 9th Lancers were detailed to join the Flying Column under Colonel Edward Greathed which on the 24th September moved out to scour the Gangetic Goab.

On the 28th September 1857, the 9th Lancers found themselves involved in the action at Bulandshahr, and Kells would become one of 5 VCs awarded to the 9th Lancers in that event. Kells was acting as orderly to Captain Drysdale who was leading the charge on that occasion, when Drysdale’s horse was shot from under him. Falling heavily, Drysdale’s collar bone was fractured and he lay helpless in the open. Lance Corporal Kells and Private Jordan stopped their own horses and went to Drysdale’s assistance as the mutineers closed in on him. Kells and Jordan managed to keep the enemy sepoys at bay until further assistance arrived. Jordan was severely wounded by a musket ball, and sadly succumbed to his injuries. Kells was recommended for the VC as was Captain Drysdale. The award was approved for Kells but not for Drysdale.

Robert Kells continued with the Flying Column, and took part in the battle at Agra on the 10th October 1857, and was afterwards present with his regiment at the Second Relief of Lucknow, the Siege and Capture of Lucknow, and throughout the campaigns in Rohilkhund and Oudh.

Kells’ citation appeared in the London Gazette on 19th December 1858. He had to wait some time to receive his medal as it was one of the 15 which were forwarded to the Secretary of State for War for presentation in India. By the time they arrived, the 9th Lancers were already on the voyage back to Britain. Kells’ VC was included with those of the 9th Lancers and returned to London, despite Kells remaining in India and transferring to the 1st Bengal European Light Cavalry.

Finally, the much-travelled medal journeyed back to India and Kells finally received it at Allahabad in 1860. Kells was discharged from the 19th Hussars at Benares on the 14th November 1868 as the result of a fall from his horse and disease 'due to climate'. He told the discharge board he intended to reside at Blackfriars Road, London. It was strange he chose to live in England, a country he had never seen. On the 1st January 1881, Kells was appointed a Yeoman of the King’s Body-Guard at the Tower of London, and was present at many of the great State occasions of the latter part of Queen Victoria’s reign and the early years of King Edward VII’s. He died in Lambeth on 14th April 1905 and was buried in Lambeth Cemetery. In March 2005, his medals were sold at auction at Dix Noonan Webb and were purchased by an anonymous buyer for £130,000. The successful bidder then agreed to loan the medals to the 9th/12th Lancers and they are displayed at the Derby Museum and Art Gallery.

BURIAL PLACE: LAMBETH CEMETERY, LAMBETH, LONDON.

Daniel Cambridge VC (27 March 1820 – 4 June 1882) 

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Daniel Cambridge (1820-1882) was born at Carrickfergus, Ireland on 27th March 1820. He was the son of Archibald Cambridge and Bridget (nee Murray). Attesting at Lisburn, County Antrim in 1839, he gave his occupation as a labourer. He was recorded as 5ft 8in tall, with a fresh complexion, dark grey eyes and brown hair. He enlisted four days later as a Driver and Gunner in the 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Artillery.

He served firstly in Malta from 1841-1847, before being posted to Canada in 1848. In 1849, he married Ann Bigham, daughter of James Bigham, at Notre-Dame de Quebec, Quebec, Canada. In 1853, Cambridge’s posting to Canada came to an end and he and Ann, now expecting their first child, found themselves returning to England, and being stationed at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

Soon afterwards, he found himself posted to the Crimea and participated in the trenches in front of Sebastopol from 1854-55. On 8th September 1855, at Sebastopol, he volunteered for the spiking party at the assault of the Redan. He remained with the party despite being wounded twice, and still refused to leave until the general order of retirement was given. Even then, he repeatedly went back to carry back wounded men under fire.

In the latter part of the day, he sprang forward again to bring in another wounded man. While carrying the helpless infantryman into the trenches, he was seen to stagger. Subsequently, he was found to have been shot a third time, this time in the right jaw, which incapacitated him, and he took no further action.

On 23rd June 1857, he was gazetted for the award of the Victoria Cross, and was one of the first 62 men to be presented with his medal at Hyde Park by Queen Victoria, just three days after his award was announced. Later that year, he was promoted to Master Gunner with the 8th Coastal Battery, Athlone, County Roscommon, Ireland; and in 1862, he was posted to Fort Trabert, County Kerry. He was pensioned as a Master Gunner after completing 32 years’ service in 1871. 

In that same year, he was appointed to The Queen’s Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard.

Daniel Cambridge died aged 62 from the effects of the wounds he had received in the Crimea on 4th June 1882 at 57 Frederick Place, Plumstead, London. He was survived by his wife Ann, and their children: William, Mary, Agnes, Daniel, Catherine and Elizabeth. He was buried in an unmarked grave in St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Plumstead. His medals are held by the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich.

BURIAL PLACE: ST NICHOLAS' CHURCHYARD, PLUMSTEAD, LONDON. (UNMARKED)

Norman Augustus Finch VC, RVM (1890-1966)

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Finch was born on Boxing Day 1890 at 42 Nineveh Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, on Boxing Day 1890, the son of John Finch, a postman, and his wife Emma Amelia. He attended Benson Road Board School and Norton Street Council School and worked as a tool machinist for the Birmingham firm H.W. Ward & Co, before joining the Royal Marine Artillery on 15th January 1908. He was described on his papers as standing 5ft 11, with brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

Finch, who later forfeited 346 days’ service towards his engagement and pension for being under age, trained at Eastney and embarked in the cruiser Diadem, his first ship, on 17th June 1909. The following year he left the Home Fleet and, as gunner second class, joined HMS Minotaur for a two-year stint on the China Station. A short time at Eastney separated spells in the Portsmouth training cruiser HMS Spartiate and the Chatham cruiser HMS Antrim, which he joined on 3rd December 1912.

He served on Antrim for three years, being promoted to Bombardier (1913) and Corporal (1915), before returning once more to Eastney on 19th August 1916. During this time Antrim operated out of Rosyth with the Third Cruiser Squadron as Rear-Admiral William Pakenham’s flagship. Antrim had narrowly evaded a U-Boat attack on 9th October 1914, and a report, subsequently published in the Birmingham Mail, stated that Finch had been given a shore job after “his nerves gave way”.

He quickly found a niche as a trainer. Promoted Sergeant on 15th March 1917, he became a Temporary Instructor for gunnery at sea in November. Finch went back to sea in the battlecruiser Inflexible, part of the Grand Fleet, in the following January, but shortly afterwards was recalled as preparations began for the raid on Zeebrugge.

On 22nd/23rd April 1918 at Zeebrugge, Belgium, Sergeant Finch was second in command of the pom-poms and Lewis gun in the foretop of HMS Vindictive. At one period Vindictive was being hit every few seconds, but Sergeant Finch and the officer in command kept up a continuous fire, until two heavy shells made direct hits on the foretop killing or disabling everyone except Sergeant Finch who was, however, severely wounded. Nevertheless, he remained in his battered and exposed position, harassing the enemy on the Mole until the foretop received another direct hit, putting the remainder of the armament completely out of action.

Finch was still recovering in hospital from shrapnel wounds to his right hand and right leg when he learned that he had been chosen to receive the VC. Officially it was stated that he was elected for the honour by non-commissioned officers and other ranks of the 4th Royal Marines. No one was more surprised than Finch himself. “Seems to me if one has the VC, the whole lot ought to have it.”

After his investiture at Buckingham Palace on 31st July 1918, Finch returned to Eastney Barracks in style, with a band leading the way and his flag-bedecked car being drawn by a party of marines to the parade ground, where, amid loud cheering, he was received by the Commandant, RMA.

He married Elizabeth Jane Ross on 3rd April 1919 in Birmingham, and five days later took up a new appointment as Instructor of Coast Defence Gunnery. The following August, Finch, who had been paid a war gratuity of £32 with £14 from the Naval Prize fund, was promoted Colour Sergeant. He signed on for a further engagement on 8th January 1921, and in July joined the 10th Royal Marines Battalion, his service with this unit being broken by two months in HMS Crescent. In September 1922 he went to the 11th Battalion which, with the Corps’ other Zeebrugge VC, Edward Bamford, among its officers, was deployed in the Eastern Mediterranean for a year.

On 27th January 1924 Finch received a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Promoted to Barrack Quartermaster Sergeant on 23rd December 1925, he eventually retired in 1929 on his 39th birthday with three good conduct badges to his name and a recommendation for the Meritorious Service Medal, which he duly received.

Settling in Southsea with his wife and son, who later served in the RAF, Finch became a postman and then, a bank messenger in Portsmouth’s North End. On New Year’s Day 1931 he was made a Yeoman of the Guard. Mobilised briefly during the Munich Crisis of 1938, he returned to his old job as Quartermaster Sergeant in the Portsmouth Division in October 1939. He served in Corps home establishments throughout the war, being promoted Temporary Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 25th February 1943. Released from service in August 1945, he returned to his job as a bank messenger and ceremonial duties with HM Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, in which he became only the second marine to hold the rank of divisional Sergeant Major. His last award was the Royal Victorian Medal (silver) which he added to his 1935 Jubilee Medal and 1937 and 1953 Coronation Medals.

Following his wife’s death from cancer, Finch, now in his 60s, moved to a small flat. He lived there alone until, after suffering a heart attack, he was persuaded to move in with a friend, another ex-marine, and his family. Finch spent the last two years of his life with the Shaws, whose children nicknamed him “Flump”. Norman Finch died in St Mary’s Hospital, Milton, Portsmouth, on 15th March 1966 and was cremated at Portchester Crematorium six days later. His impressive collection of medals were bequeathed to the Corps he had served so faithfully. They are still displayed at the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, Hampshire.

BURIAL PLACE: PORTCHESTER CREMATORIUM, HAMPSHIRE. ASHES SCATTERED SECTION 3