Israel Harding VC

Name: Israel Harding

Conflict: Egypt

Gazetted: September 15, 1882

Service: Royal Navy

Place/date of birth: Portsmouth, Hampshire/October 21, 1833

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Gunner (later Chief Gunner)

Date of bravery: July 11, 1882

London Gazette citation:

Mr. Israel Harding, Gunner, of the Her Majesty’s Ship “Alexandra”.

At about 9 o’clock, on the morning of the 11^th July, whilst Her Majesty’s Ship “Alexandra” was engaging the Forts at Alexandria, a 10-inch spherical shell passed through the ship’s side and lodged on the main deck. Mr. Harding hearing the shout “there is a live shell just above the hatchway,” rushed up the ladder from below, and, observing that the fuze was burning, took some water from a tub standing near, and threw it over the projectile, then picked up the shell and put it into the tub. Had the shell burst, it would probably have destroyed many lives.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Billingshurst, Sussex/May 11, 1917

Grave/memorials: Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Morton & Eden, London, 2003

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