Finding a Victoria Cross

I am a passionate detectorist and, despite living in London, still manage to go detecting three or maybe even five times a week.

- Tobias Neto

I am a passionate detectorist and, despite living in London, still manage to go detecting three or maybe even five times a week. This is only possible because one of my main haunts is the tidal foreshore of the River Thames. I really enjoy detecting and feel that it keeps me both healthy as well as continually teaching me about my local history.

Back on the 17 December 2015, I was out searching one of my usual areas when I discovered what looked like a large brooch or possibly even a medal. It was only about 3 inches deep when finally unearthed, and was covered in corrosion deposits, mud and bits of gravel (Figs.1 & 2). I therefore placed it in my finds bag and carried on searching. Later on I returned home and washed all my finds including the curious cross shaped artefact (Figs.3 & 4). I have to admit from that point it seemed pretty obvious to me that it was indeed a Victoria Cross as I could read the legend “FOR VALOUR” just below the crown. Turning it over I noticed the date 5 NOV 1854 (Fig.5) stamped into the reverse.

From hereon I was determined to research the medal and gather as many facts as I could about it. I later discovered that there were only two names linked to unknown whereabouts of Victoria Crosses issued during the Crimean War.

These two associated people being Sergeant John Byrne (originally from Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, Ireland) and Private John MacDermond (originally from Clackmannan, Scotland).