On the 11th November 1929 the Irish Independent newspaper reported that there were nine Victoria Cross winners residing in Ireland. The following is a list of those recipient and their place of residence at that time
Captain Boyd-Rochfort, George Arthur of Midleton Park, Castletowngeoghegan, Co. Westmeath. Born on the 1st January 1880 at the family home in Midleton Park.
On 3rd August 1915 between Cambrin and La Bassee, France, a German trench-mortar bomb landed on the side of the parapet of the communication trench in which Second Lieutenant Boyd-Rochfort, Scots Guards was standing close to a small working party of his battalion. Instead of stepping back into safety he shouted to his men to look out, rushed at the bomb, seized it and hurled it over the parapet where it at once exploded. This combination of presence of mind and courage saved the lives of many of the working party.
George Arthur Boyd-Rochforth later achieved the rank of Captain. He died on the 7th August 1940 in Dublin and is buried in Castletown Old Churchyard Co. Westmeath. His Victoria Cross is on display at The Guards Regimental Headquarters Wellington Barracks, London.
Company Sergeant Major Doyle, Martin of 105 Islandbridge Road Dublin. A native of New Ross Co. Wexford where he was born on the 25th October 1891.
On 2nd September 1918 at Reincourt, France when command of the company fell on Company Sergeant Major Doyle, Royal Munster Fusiliers, all the officers having become casualties, he extricated a party of his men who were surrounded by the enemy and carried back, under heavy fire a wounded officer. Later he went forward under intense fire to the assistance of a tank and when an enemy machine-gun opened fire on the tank, making it impossible to get the wounded away, he captured it single-handed and took three prisoners. Subsequently when the enemy counter-attacked, he drove them back taking many more prisoners.
Martin Doyle died in Dublin on the 20th November 1940 and is buried in the Military Cemetery Blackhorse Lane Dublin. His Victoria Cross is in Lord Ashcroft’s Collection
Private Duffy, James of Letterkenny Co. Donegal. Born on the 17th November 1889 in Gweedore, Co. Donegal.
On the 27th December 1917 at Kereina Peak, Palestine, whilst the company was holding a very exposed position, Private Duffy Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, a stretcher-bearer, and another stretcher-bearer went out to bring in a seriously wounded comrade. When the other stretcher-bearer was wounded, Private Duffy returned to get another man, who was killed almost immediately. The private then went forward alone and under very heavy fire, succeeded in getting both wounded men under cover and attended to their injuries. His gallantry undoubtedly saved both men’s lives.
James Duffy died in Dromany Letterkenny on the 8th April 1969 and is buried in Conwal Cemetery Letterkenny Co. Donegal. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Regimental Museum of The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh, N.Ireland
Private Hughes, Thomas of Anneferkin, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. Born in Co.Monaghan in 1885.
On the 3rd September 1916 at Guillemont France, Private Hughes, Connaught Rangers, was wounded in an attack but returned at once to the firing line after having his wounds dressed. Later seeing a hostile machine-gun, he dashed out in front of his company, shot the gunner and single-handed, captured the gun. Though again wounded, he brought back three or four prisoners.
Thomas Hughes later achieved the rank of corporal. He died in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan on the 8th January 1942 and is buried in Bloomfield Old Cemetery, Co. Managhan. His Victoria Cross is on display at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, London, England
Private Moffat, Martin of Emmet Place Sligo. Born on the 15th April 1882 in Sligo.
On the 14th October 1918 near Ledeghem Belguim, Private Moffat, Leinster Regiment, was advancing with five others across the open when they suddenly came under heavy rifle fire at close range from a strongly held house. Rushing towards the house through a hail of bullets, Private Moffat threw bombs and then, working to the back of the house, rushed the door, killing two and capturing 30 of the enemy.
Martin Moffat was drowned off the Sligo coast on the 5th January 1946 and is buried in Sligo Town Cemetery. His Victoria Cross is in Lord Ashcroft’s Collection
Lance Sergeant Moyney, John of Ballaghmore Roscrea Co. Tipperary. He was born in Rathdowney, Queen’s Co. on the 8th January 1895
On 12th-13th September 1917 north of Broembeek Belgium, Lance Sergeant Moyney, Irish Guards, was in command of 15 men forming two advanced posts. Surrounded by the enemy he held his post for 96 hours, having no water and very little food. On the fifth day, on the enemy advancing to dislodge him, he attacked them with bombs, while also using his Lewis gun with great effect. Finding himself surrounded, he led his men in a charge through the enemy and reached a stream, where he and a private Thomas Woodcock covered his party while they crossed unscathed, before crossing themselves under a shower of bullets.
John Moyney later achieved the rank of sergeant. He died in Roscrea, Co. Tipperary on the 10th November 1980 and is buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery in the town. His Victoria Cross is on display at The Guards Regimental Headquarters, Wellington Barracks, London
Corporal Murray, James of 461 Ardilaun Terrace, North Circular Road, Dublin. Born in February 1859 in the parish of St.Michael’s in the city of Cork.
On the 16th January 1881 at Elandsfontein near Pretoria South Africa during the First Boer War, James Murray, Connaught Rangers, and John Danaher, a trooper of Nourse’s Horse, advanced for 500 yards under heavy fire from a party of about 60 of the enemy and brought out of action a private who had been severely wounded.
James Murray died in Dublin on the 19th July 1942 and is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. His Victoria Cross is on display at the National Army Museum, Chelsea, England
Private Quigg, Robert of Bushmills, Co. Antrim. Born in the parish of Billy near the Giants Causeway, Co. Antrim on the 28th February 1885.
On the 1st July 1916, Robert Quigg, Royal Irish Rifles, volunteered to go out into “No Man’s Land” to search for a missing officer Lieutenant Harry MacNaughten. He went out seven times without success. On each occasion, he came under machine-gun fire, but he managed to return with a wounded colleague. On one of his forays, he crawled within yards of the German position in order to rescue a wounded soldier, whom he dragged back on a waterproof groundsheet.
Robert Quigg died on the 14th May 1955 in Ballycastle and is buried in Billy Protestant Churchyard, Co. Antrim. His Victoria Cross in on display at The Royal Irish Rifles Museum, Belfast, N.Ireland
Reg-Q/Mas-Sergeant Scott, Robert of Kilkeel Co. Down. Born in Haslingden, Lancashire, England on the 4th June 1874.
On the 6th January 1900 during an attack on Caesar’s Camp, Natal South Africa, sixteen men of “D” Company were defending one of the slopes of the hill. The defenders were under heavy fire all day, the majority being killed and their positions occupied by the enemy. At last only Private Scott, Manchester Regiment, and one other man James Pitts remained. They held their post for fifteen hours without food or water. All the time exchanging deadly fire with the enemy, until relief troops had retaken the lost ground and pushed the enemy off the hill.
Robert Scott died on the 21st February 1961 in Downpatrick, Co. Down and is buried in Christchurch Cemetery, Kilkeel, Co. Down. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Manchester Regiment Museum, Ashton-under-Lyne, England.
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