Amazing tale of Irish farm boy who became first soldier be awarded Victoria Cross

Brian Humphreys, who retired in 1994 as chief superintendent in charge of the force’s operations department, came across the name of Luke O’Connor quite by chance.

It was a fortuitous find, because it has unearthed a rarely told tale of an orphan Irish boy who joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers, received the VC for his extreme bravery at the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War, became a friend of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), was knighted and retired with the rank of Major General.

Not bad for a lad from a poor farming family.

Major General Sir Luke O’Connor

Now comes the book. From Irish Orphan To VC Hero takes the reader through Luke’s remarkable life from the hardships of rural Ireland in the 1830s to the battlefields of Europe and on to the highest circles of British high society.

As well as a story of extraordinary courage under fire – a feat that was repeated at least twice – it also casts light on the terrible social conditions existing for the lower classes in the mid-1800s.

The stage was set for this very unexpected volume, when Brian, having retired from the police, decided take up genealogy as a hobby. For a former DCI in charge of Worcester CID it was a logical choice.

But the name of Luke O’Connor wouldn’t have crossed his path had it not been for a letter sent out of the blue to his wife Jo in 2006.

It came from her brother and included a photograph of a heavily decorated soldier, which Jo remembered being in a frame on the mantle shelf of her grandmother’s cottage in Herefordshire when she was a girl.

The grandmother, Bessie Clabon, had died in 1958 when the photo was passed to her grandson. Fifty years later he sent it on to his brother-in-law Brian, the former West Mercia detective turned genealogist, in an effort to find out who this man was.

The ensuing story is worth a film script any day of the week.

Luke O’Connor  turned out to be the great uncle of Bessie. He was born in Kilcroy in Ireland in 1832. With the great potato famine looming his family decided to sell up and sail to North America in 1839 in search of opportunity.

The O’Connors embarked on one of the dreaded “coffin ships”, but Luke’s father James died at sea en route and his mother and a baby brother died on arrival of cholera.

Desperately homesick, Luke returned to Ireland to be looked after by family, but some of his other siblings remained in North America and fought in the American Civil War, one becoming a Major and a hero at the Battle of Missionary Ridge.

Moving to England as a young man, Luke enlisted in the British Army and at the age of 23 was promoted sergeant in the 23rd Regiment of Foot (later The Royal Welch Fusiliers).

Louis William Desanges' painting of Luke O’Connor winning his VC at the Battle of Alma

On September 20, 1854, at the Battle of the Alma, he was advancing between two officers carrying the Colours, when one of them was mortally wounded.

Sergeant O’Connor was also shot at the same time, a bullet hitting him in the chest and shattering two ribs. But he staggered to his feet, picked up the  Queen’s Colour and despite being badly wounded, led the advance.

He continued to carry the heavy silk standard  until the end of the action.

O’Connor recovered from his wounds in the care of Florence Nightingale and the Sisters of Charity in Scutari hospital.

A year later he was back in action, again showing great courage at the assault on the Redan fort at Sevastopol in September 1855, where he continued to fight despite being shot through both thighs.

The Victoria Cross did not exist at that time, but O’Connor’s actions had been admired by his commanders and when it was created in 1856 he was one of 62 Crimean veterans invested during a ceremony in Hyde Park.

He was the first recipient from the Army, as opposed to the Royal Navy.

A commission and promotions followed and being a VC celebrity, the young officer was often invited to the gatherings of the Royal family and the aristocracy in London. He developed a friendship with the Prince of Wales and was knighted. On his retirement, the by now Sir Luke O’Connor was promoted to the honorary rank of Major General and became Colonel of the regiment he joined as a boy and had never left.

Sir Luke died in London in 1915 aged 83. He is buried at St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green and his Victoria Cross is on display in the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum in Caernarfon Castle, Gwynedd.

“The story of Luke O’Connor is a real life rags to riches story,” said Brian Humphreys, “and I have been proud to tell it. It has taken a few years to research it all, but I am glad I persevered because it is a remarkable tale of a remarkable, and very modest, man.”

From Irish Orphan To VC Hero is on sale online at various outlets, including Amazon Books at £12.95