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The Victoria Cross

The foremost British and Commonwealth gallantry decoration is awarded for very exceptional gallantry and, as such, is the most prized award that any subject can earn.
 
These pages commemorate those Men of Portsmouth to whom the VC was awarded. Each is listed below - click on their names for further details of their actions and biographies.
Map showing the location of the principal cemeteries in Portsmouth
Map of Portsmouth Cemeteries
 
Detailed maps of each can be
found on the VC Pages.

Highland Road Cemetery
Sir William Nathan Wrighte Hewett VC
Israel Harding VC
Henry James Raby VC
Hugh Stewart Cochrane VC
John Robarts VC
Hugh Shaw VC
William Temple VC
William Goate VC
 
Milton Cemetery
Sidney James Day VC
John Danagher VC
 
Kingston Cemetery
Henry Curtis VC
 

Others
James Ockendon VC
Thomas Reeves VC
Norman Finch VC
 
Others (Buried outside Portsmouth)
Norman Douglas Holbrook VC
Edward Robinson VC
Edward Unwin VC
Edward Stephen Fogarty Fegen VC
William Harry Nickerson VC
Francis John William Harvey VC
Nowell Salmon VC
John Edmund Commerell VC
John Leak VC
Robert Vaughan Gorle VC


See also the Royal Naval Club and Royal Albert Yacht Club Memorial plaque to members upon whom the VC was conferred.
 
For a brief history of the Victoria Cross see the National Army Museum VC Section

George Housman Thomas (1824-1868)
The Queen distributing the first Victoria Crosses in Hyde Park, 26th June 1857
 
The Royal Collection © 2004, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
 
Further Information
The first man to receive his Victoria Cross from the Queen was Commander Raby. He was followed shortly by Lieutenant Hewett (5th in line), Gunner Robarts (6th), Seaman Reeves (10th) and Boatswain Curtis (11th). It is no small coincidence that all five would be buried in Portsmouth and three of them in Highland Road Cemetery.
Queen Victoria and the Crimea