James Byrne

He carried a wounded officer to safety through enemy gunfire

James Byrne was born in 1822 at Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow. He entered the British Army and served with the 86th Regiment of Foot. His service brought him to India, where the regiment took part in the Central India campaign during the uprising of 1857–58.

On 3 April 1858, during the assault on Jhansi, Ensign Sewell was severely wounded while the regiment cleared houses below the fort. Byrne and Lieutenant Henry Jerome reached him under heavy fire and carried him to safety. Byrne suffered a sword wound during the rescue. His Victoria Cross citation recognised this effort to recover an officer who could not escape unaided.

Byrne served as a private during the actions and subsequently became a sergeant. His Central India campaign also brought the Indian Mutiny Medal with the clasp bearing that name.

He left the army in November 1859. Queen Victoria presented his Victoria Cross at Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860. After the original cross was stolen, he received a replacement. He later lived in Ireland. He died in Dublin on 6 December 1872 and was buried at Glasnevin Cemetery. His name is commemorated on his mother's headstone and on the regimental memorial in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast.