In Memoriam.
Rear-Admiral Charles Davis Lucas VC (1834–1914) was a distinguished Royal Navy officer famously recognized as the first person to perform an act of gallantry that earned the
Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military decoration.
The Heroic Act.
On June 21, 1854, during the war in Crimea, Lucas was a 20-year-old mate serving aboard the steam frigate HMS Hecla.
- The Incident: While bombarding the Russian fortress of Bomarsund in the Baltic Sea, a live Russian shell landed on the Hecla's deck with its fuse still hissing.
- The Action: Instead of following orders to dive for cover, Lucas coolly picked up the live shell and hurled it overboard into the sea, where it exploded before hitting the water.
- The Result: His quick thinking saved the ship and numerous lives, leading to his immediate promotion to Acting Lieutenant.
The Historical Significance.
- First VC Winner: Although the Victoria Cross was not officially instituted until 1856, Lucas was retrospectively awarded the medal for his 1854 action, making it the earliest act to qualify for the award.
- Investiture: He was one of 62 veterans who received the medal personally from Queen Victoria during the first-ever investiture ceremony at Hyde Park on June 26, 1857.
- Lost Medals: Historically, Lucas reportedly left his original medals, including his Victoria Cross, on a train. The set currently displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich consists of replacement copies.
His Naval Career & Personal Life.
- Rank: He rose through the ranks to retire as a Captain in 1873 and was later promoted to Rear-Admiral on the retired list in 1885.
- Origin: Born in Druminargal House, Acton, County Armagh, Ireland, he came from a wealthy landowning family and entered the Navy at the age of 13.
- Marriage: In 1879, he married Frances Russell Hall, the daughter of Admiral Sir William Hutcheon Hall—who had been his captain on the HMS Hecla during his VC action.
- Later Years: He spent his final years in Kent, serving as a Justice of the Peace, before passing away in 1914 at the age of 80.
