On a visit to Anfield Cemetery, Liverpool the other day, I came across two headstones bearing the VC. On closer inspection I noticed neither one was from WWII or WWI ... But both dated back to the 1850's The first one belongs to Private Joseph Prosser. Birth: 1828 Death: Jun. 10, 1867 Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Monegal, King's County (now County Offaly), Ireland, he was serving as a private with the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Regiment of Foot (later Royal Scots, The Lothian Regiment) when he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. From his citation: "On 16 June 1855 at Sevastapol, Crimea, when on duty in the trenches, Private Prosser pursued and apprehended, (whilst exposed to enemy cross-fire), a soldier in the act of deserting to the enemy. On 11 August he left the most advanced trench and helped to carry to safety a severely wounded soldier of the 95th Regiment who was unable to move. This gallant and humane act was performed under very heavy fire from the enemy." He passed away in Liverpool at the age of approximately 39. His medals are in the collection of the Royal Scots Regiment Museum, Edinburgh.
The second one was awarded to Private William Patrick Mylott. Birth: 1820 Death: Dec. 22, 1878 Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross Recipient. Born at Hollymount, near Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland, he was serving as a private with the 84th Regiment of Foot (later the York and Lancaster Regiment) when he performed the deeds for which he was awarded the VC. From his citation: "Between the dates 12th July to 25th September, 1857, Private Mylott on several occasions showed conspicuous gallantry at every encounter his unit made with the enemy. On one occasion, under a hail of musket fire, he rushed across an open road to take an enemy enclosure opposite." He was elected by his regiment to receive the medal under a provision of the original royal warrant establishing the award. He eventually attained the rank of sergeant and passed away at the age of 58 in Liverpool, Lancashire. His medals are not publicly held. I know neither one of these chaps has any relevance to WWII, but thought them worthy of a mention anyway. I mean, a VC is still a VC no matter when it's awarded.
The late Sid Lyndsey Campaigned in the late 1980's to get all the Liverpool V.C s commemorated they have the C.W.G.C style Headstones. There is one near the entrance to Liverpool Anglican Cathederal and another in Allerton Cemetery for a R.A soldier called Nurse who won his V.C at Colenso in the Boer War. Allerton also has another V.C winner who i think is called Ratcliffe he was known as the Dockers V.C although he has a Family Headstone which mentions a ww2 casualty lost at Dunkirk. Sid also published a book on all the Liverpool V.C s Called Merseyside Heroes.
