Victoria Cross medal winners from Cavan and Monaghan
In this week's Times Past column, Jonathan Smyth looks at various Victoria Cross medal winners from Cavan and Monaghan...
The V.C., meaning the Victoria Cross was first issued during the Crimean War in recognition of acts of bravery by soldiers in the British Army. It is the highest award that can be won by Britain’s forces. Winners include Irishmen who in search of well-paid work and an opportunity to see the world joined and fought abroad in foreign wars. This week’s Times Past column looks at some of them.
George Richardson V.C.
In the 1920s, George Richardson, a resident of Stratton, Ontario was still acknowledged locally as an Ulsterman when in 1913 he became the recipient of a “purse of gold” and an ‘illuminated address’, subscribed to by “several gentlemen” in the Canadian Township where he lived. Mr. Richardson was born in Derrylane, Killeshandra, Co. Cavan on 1 August 1837 to John and Anne Richardson and in 1855 at twenty-four years of age, he joined the Border Regiment .
The “beautifully executed” scroll presented to him was said to be topped with three scrolls that bore the words Lucknow, Delhi, and ‘a full-sized representation of the Victoria Cross,’ with the inscription ‘For Valour.’ The wording on the scroll stated that it was simply a ‘token of regard from those who honour the brave.’ Important Canadian figures of the day were listed as having subscribed to one who survived the Indian Mutiny. For all his bravery, the pension was quite on the low side at 8d (pence) per day with an extra £10 annually added in recognition of his V.C. Richardson’s former company officer, Colonel Laurie intervened and managed to have the pension increased to $250 (Canadian dollars) per year. His medal carried the words “Pte Richardson, 34 Regt., April 17, 1859.”
The ‘Indian Mutiny’ took place from 1857 to 1859 when the people of India stood up to British rule. Although the rebellion had widespread support, it was unable to succeed and thereafter was known by citizens as the ‘First War of Independence.’ The British had used a variety of ploys to subvert Indian traditions, for example, the ‘doctrine of lapse’ was used whereby if a member of the Hindu aristocracy had no natural heir, then his property and rights automatically went to the British. The Brahmans, India’s highest ranking class by tradition, saw their revenue removed when they were demoted from high-earning positions. Naturally, such matters immensely offended the native population. The result was a rising-up against their colonial masters.
In 1921, George Richardson V.C. was given the honour of being chosen to represent Canada at the wreath laying ceremony for America’s Unknown Warrior in Washington. However, some years earlier he was almost forgotten, and he might not have been selected to lay the Maple wreath but for the fact that he was ‘noticed’ in a line-up of Veterans by the Prince of Wales while attending the Toronto Exhibition in 1919. Prior to that he was living in near poverty having suffered misfortune. His home had been destroyed in a fire and his wife died from the shock of the incident. The event in Washington received the attention of the Bradford Daily Argus on Friday, 23 December 1921. Other V.C. winners from Cavan include James Somers, Marcus Ervine Andrews, John McGovern, and James Owens.
Thomas Hughes V.C.
The First World War was another shocking conflict. Those who lived were sometimes hailed as heroes but not very often in Ireland. On June 9, 1917, the Anglo-Celt brought the news that Thomas Hughes, a private in the Connaught Rangers, had won a Victoria Cross on the Somme battlefield for his "bravery and determination" at Guillemont on September 3, 1916. Hughes had received wounds and went to get them dressed and having done so, returned to the firing line. The report stated that he ‘later saw a hostile machine-gun’ and fearlessly dashed out in front of his company and then single-handedly fired a shot at the machine-gunner killing him instantly before taking charge of the gun. He also captured about four enemy prisoners in the vicinity of the machine gun.
Thomas Hughes was born on 10 November 1885 at Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. Hughes' father was a farmer named Patrick Hughes from Corravoo, Castleblaney. Before the war Thomas had worked as a jockey for Mr. T. McMahon of Bree House, Castleblaney. In his twenty-fifth year he went to England and settled at Hednesford, Staffordshire. He worked on the coal wharf at Cannock and was ‘engaged in the horse business,’ as a stable hand. In November 1914, he enlisted with the Connaught Rangers as a private.
Also, in attendance at Hyde Park to see Thomas receive his V.C. from King George was an acting - sergeant named Patrick Donagh, of the Connaught Rangers who received the D.C.M. Sergeant Donagh had been a clerk at Armagh railway station before the war. The thirty year old Thomas Hughes was still on crutches when he collected his medal. Another V.C. winner from Monaghan that day was Sergeant David Nelson, later promoted to Captain. He was from the northern part of the county.
Thomas's homecoming after the war was not during the easiest of times. The Shropshire Star’s reporter Toby Neal’s article in February 2021 about ‘Irish Tommy’ Hughes gives more details on his life. The feature coincided with Hughes's story appearing in a soon-to-be published book by Cannock historian Richard Pursehouse, called 'Great War Victoria Crosses of the Midlands.' Thomas Hughes returned to Castleblaney where he farmed. Poverty was rife in those days, and it was noted that his sister had to ‘sell Tom’s medals.’ His V.C. is now preserved in the National Army Museum, Chelsea. In 2017, the Ulster History Circle erected a blue plaque in Castleblaney in memory of Thomas Hughes.
David Nelson V.C.
The awarding of a V.C. to David Nelson was discussed in the Banbridge Chronicle on Wednesday 17 March 1915.
They recorded that the honourable secretary of the ‘Nelson Testimonial’ in Monaghan having forwarded to Lieutenant Nelson ‘a presentation sword, together with a list of subscribers’ had received an acknowledgement from the impressed recipient on March 7, 1915:
Dear Sirs,
To say that I am absolutely delighted with and extremely proud to be the possessor of such a sword and accoutrements is indeed in a small way of expressing my feelings. The quality and design of each detail surpasses my best expectations and the gift bears out to the full and is quite in keeping with my own cherished opinion of the ladies and gentlemen who have so sincerely expressed themselves as “My Monaghan friends.”
To feel that the sword, etc., was chosen by Colonel Leslie is indeed a source of great pride to me. To recall the evening on which I was made the guest of my Monaghan friends and to look at the list of distinguished subscribers makes me feel prouder than I can find words to express.
Little also did I think when serving my gun on that never-to-be-forgotten 1st September 1914, that my performance of duty would bring me such an honour and reward, or that an account of that action, much less myself, would ever reach “My Monaghan friends.”
I beg to remain yours very sincerely,
D. Nelson, V.C., R.A.
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