Victoria Cross Holders Interred within or cremated at Brighton & Hove City Council’s Cemeteries and Crematorium
A Brief History of the Victoria Cross
Until the Crimean War (1854-1856), official rewards for gallantry existed only for officers. They were either the Order of the Bath or brevet promotion.
In the war against Russia, both the Baltic and the Crimea, the British position in this matter contrasted unfavourably with their French allies whose Legion of Merit, with its various grades, was also awarded to British soldiers and was much envied.
The question of a new gallantry award for all ranks was first raised in Parliament in December 1854. From there it took a long time to proceed, but the Victoria Cross was eventually instituted by Royal Warrant dated 29th January 1856. The new award had the full encouragement of Queen Victoria who is said to have personally influenced many of the decisions on the design of the simple bronze cross.
The decision was made to make the cross from the bronze of Russian guns captured in the Crimea. The metal used came from two 18-pounders from which the two cascabels (used to secure restraining ropes during firing) were removed. The metal was actually found to be too hard to stamp the metal, so the Victoria Cross was die- cast, finished by hand, and given a processed bronze finish.
The first investiture was carried out in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857 and the presentations were made by Queen Victoria herself.
The following are recipients of the Victoria Cross and are laid to rest within the City Cemeteries:
BOOTH Frederick Charles, Sergeant (later Captain) South African Police (attached to the Rhodesia Native Infantry) Born 6th March1890 - Upper Holloway, London Died 14th September 1960 - Brighton, Sussex Buried in the Borough Cemetery, Bear Road, Brighton. Grave number ZKZ 36 Awarded V.C. at: - Johannesbruck near Songrea, East Africa on 18th February1917.
GRISTOCK George, C.S.M. Royal Norfolk Regiment Born 14th January 1905 - Pretoria, South Africa Died 16th June 1940 - Brighton, Sussex Buried in the Borough Cemetery, Bear Road, Brighton. Grave number ZGL 28 (within the Commonwealth War Grave Commission section) Awarded V.C. at: - Belgium, on 21st May 1940.
Mc KEAN George Burdon, Lieutenant (later Captain) Canadian Infantry Born 4th July 1888 - Willingdon, Bishop Auckland, Durham Died 16th November 1926 - Cuffley, Hertfordshire Buried (cremated remains) in the Extra-Mural Cemetery, Lewes Road, Brighton. Grave number XM 41624 Awarded V.C. at :- France, on 27/28th April1918. Also holder of Military Cross & Military Medal, (medals retained at the Canadian War Museum)
LENNOX Wilbraham Oates, Lieutenant / Lt General Royal Engineers Born 4th August 1830 Died 7th February 1897 Buried in the Borough (Woodvale) Cemetery, Lewes Road, Brighton. Grave number FF 47/48/49 (family vault) Awarded V.C. at :- Crimea, 20th November 1854. Also holder of KCB, (V.C. sent to Lt General Ashburnham, Hong Kong for presentation) More information is available on his life and Army career.
WALKER William George, Captain (later Major General) 4th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army Born 28th May1863 Died 16th February 1936 Cremated at Woodvale Crematorium, Lewes Road, Brighton. Cremation number 1648 Awarded V.C. at: - Dartatoleh, Somaliland, 22nd April1903.