John Barry VC

Name: John Barry

Conflict: Second Boer War

Gazetted: August 8, 1902

Service: Army

Place/date of birth:  Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny, Ireland/February 1, 1873

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Private

Date of bravery: January 7/8, 1901

London Gazette citation:

No. 3733 Private J. Barry, 1^st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment.

During the night attack on the 7th and 8th January, 1901, on Monument Hill, Private Barry, although surrounded and threatened by the Boers at the time, smashed the breach of the Maxim gun, thus rendering it useless to its captors, and it was in doing this splendid act for his country that he met his death.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Belfast, near Johannesburg, South Africa/January 8, 1901

Grave/memorials: Belfast Cemetery, near Johannesburg, South Africa

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Dix Noonan Webb, London, 2000

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum