John Byrne VC Crimean war 1854

Not one of "ours" I think but still!
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Steve

Is there any inscription on the rear Steve?

Apparently to a Sgt John Byrne of the 68th at Inkerman. See as follows. Must be a million to one it turned up!
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Steve

Unbelievable .
90th

I recently purchased a book on the early history of the VC up to 1903 , which has I think the first 540 or so VC's , also photo's of nearly 400 of those men , unfortunately no pic of Sgt John Byrne . Hopefully someone may find come across one ?
90th

Steve/Gary
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Cheers

Thanks Frank , excellent work that man !
90th

Latest update from the Museum of London - not yet sure of original owner.
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Steve

Some time before 1985 a metal detectorist discovered a Victoria Cross in the river Thames. After specialist investigation it was deemed to belong to a John Byrne of Newport, South Wales.
He had been awarded the VC for saving a man's life at the battle of Inkerman in the Crimean war 1854.

Have heard this news the Durham Light Infantry museum ( The successor to Byrne's Regiment, 65th Regt of foot) began to make enquiries and to find out where he was buried and what happened to him in later life.
Knowing that C/Sgt Byrne, the rank he was on discharge, had settled in Newport, the museum contacted a known Newport Historian to ascertain the details above.
The Historian discovered that John Byrne was buried in St Woolas Cemetery Newport and was horrified to find that he was buried in an Un-marked grave. Having continued his research the Historian discovered that John Byrne had died by his own hand.

John Byrne had moved to Newport to work for the Ordinance Survey and got into an argument with a 18 year old work colleague, John Watts, and the next day went to work and shot the said John with a revolver, after John Byrne believed he insulted his VC.
He had raged I have served my Queen and Country for 21 years and I will never be insulted by that curr puppy. When the police turned up at his lodgings in Maindee Newport, John shot himself.

The grave was finally found and a headstone was made by a local Stone Mason for free.
A Distinguished former member of the Regiment General Sir Peter de la Billiere came to Newport to unveil the headstone in 1985.

I thought i should leave it here for now, and for all you brilliant historians to do your research.

Eddie

My apologies I believe it is the 68th Regiment of Foot, not 65th.

Click Here.

Yes I had read this, interesting reading. I though I would just give a short snippet for members to research. But thank you.

Your post got me searching. Very interesting by sad story. Snippets are the foundation of research.

Buried at St Woolas Cemetery Newport, I Will take a photograph of the grave the next time I am in the area.
See my earlier post about Sgt John Byrne. Sadly took his own life.

Hi All 

I have found a Newspaper article in relation to John's suicide in The North Wales Express, Friday 18, 1879:

A sergeant named Byrne attempted to kill one of his comrades - John Watts - at Newport, Mon, on Friday morning.
He fired at his intended victim with a revolver, but without inflicting serious hurt. He then went to his lodgings and barricaded himself in against the approach of the police. Upon their arrival he blew out his brains with the revolver.
Byrne was a pensioner and was decorated with the Victoria Cross.

Two points in the article are incorrect. One is that he was a Sergeant, he was actually a Colour Sergeant, and the other is he shot a work colleague, not one of his comrades. He was an army pensioner but still able to work.