William James Lendrim

William James Lendrim was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 25 years old, and a Corporal in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 14 February 1855 at Sebastopol, in the Crimea, Corporal Lendrim superintended 150 French Chasseurs in building No. 9 Battery left attack and replacing the whole of the capsized gabions under a heavy fire. On 11 April he got on top of a magazine under fire, and extinguished burning sandbags, making good the breach. On 20 April he was one of four volunteers who destroyed the screen which the Russians had erected to conceal their advance rifle-pits.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant-Major, and worked at the Staff College, Frimley. He married Louisa and had 11 children- all alive in 1881. William is buried at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, plot 182. William also received the Légion d'Honneur and Medal Militaire of France.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum (Chatham, England).

Reference