Hugh Talbot Burgoyne
Lieutenant Hugh Talbot Burgoyne, RN (1833-7 September 1870), 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. Burgoyne was a 21-year-old Royal Navy lieutenant, serving in the Crimean War when he performed the following deed for which he was awarded the VC.
Details
On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Lieutenant Burgoyne of HMS Swallow, with a lieutenant (Cecil William Buckley) from HMS Miranda and a gunner (John Robarts) from HMS Ardent, volunteered to land at a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment before embarking again.
Further information
He later achieved the rank of Captain and was killed when in command of HMS Captain, which capsized off Cape Finisterre during a gale. This revolutionary masted turret ship was the subject of considerable controversy during its design and construction and its loss was attributed to its poor stability.
Reference
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.