DYKT 5: Did you know that six Victoria Crosses have been awarded for acts of gallantry not in the presence of the enemy?

When the Royal Warrant of 29 January 1856 instituting the Victoria Cross (VC) was signed, under Clause 5 of the Warrant a VC could only be awarded for acts of gallantry performed ‘in the presence of the enemy’. However, on 10 August 1858 a further Royal Warrant was signed permitting awards to be made for acts of gallantry ‘under circumstances of extreme danger’ not in the presence of the enemy. As a consequence Rifleman Timothy O’Hea of the 1st Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, was awarded a VC for his gallantry in extinguishing a fire on an ammunition train in Canada on 9 June 1866. A further five VCs were awarded to members of the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment following a ship-to-shore rescue in the Andaman Islands on 7 May 1867. The introduction of the Royal Warrant was not popular, little publicised and ceased to have effect after 1881.

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