John Farrell (VC)

For other people named John Farrell, see John Farrell (disambiguation).

John Farrell
Depiction of the Charge of the Light Brigade
Born	March 1826 Dublin, Ireland
Died	31 August 1865 (aged 39) Secunderabad, India
Buried	Secunderabad Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Rank	Quartermaster-Sergeant
Unit	17th Lancers
Battles / wars	Crimean War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Farrell VC (March 1826, Dublin – 31 August 1865) was a British Army soldier and 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.

He was a sergeant in the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 25 October 1854 at Balaklava, Crimea during the Charge of the Light Brigade, Sergeant Farrell, whose horse had been killed under him, stopped on the field and amidst a storm of shot and shell helped Troop Sergeant Major John Berryman and Sergeant Joseph Malone to move a severely wounded officer (who subsequently died) out of range of the guns.

He later achieved the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant. He was killed in action at Secunderabad, British India, on 31 August 1865.

References

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
• Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)