Thomas Grady

Thomas “Tom” Grady VC, DCM was an Irish-born soldier of the 4th (King’s Own) Regiment of Foot whose conduct during the Crimean War earned him the Victoria Cross for two separate acts of gallantry at Sevastopol. Born at Claddagh, County Galway, on 18 September 1835, Grady enlisted in the 99th Regiment of Foot in 1853 before transferring to the 4th Regiment in February 1854. Official records identify him as a Private during his Crimean service, in the London Gazette announcing his Victoria Cross, and at his discharge from the Army. Some later sources describe him as a Sergeant, but a documented promotion has not been established in the surviving service evidence. The Gazette On 18 October 1854, during the Siege of Sevastopol, Grady volunteered to repair the damaged embrasures of the Sailors’ Battery on the Left Attack. Assisted by only one other volunteer, he carried out the work under heavy Russian fire. A little more than a month later, on 22 November, Grady distinguished himself again during the repulse of a Russian attack on the advanced trench. Although severely wounded, he refused to leave the front and continued to encourage the small force defending the position. Both dates and both acts were recorded in the official Victoria Cross announcement published in the London Gazette on 23 June 1857. The Gazette The two actions were ultimately recognised by a single Victoria Cross. Grady's surviving Cross is engraved with both dates, 18 October and 22 November 1854, and the Australian War Memorial records that he received a second recommendation for the Victoria Cross following the November action. He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, together with a £5 gratuity. However, the citation for his DCM has not survived, so it cannot safely be stated that the DCM was specifically awarded for the 22 November action. Australian War Memorial Grady completed his military service in September 1856 and was discharged to pension the following month. On 26 June 1857 he was personally decorated by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park during the first great presentation of the Victoria Cross, at which sixty-two recipients received the new decoration. His medal entitlement also included the Crimea Medal with the Alma, Inkermann and Sebastopol clasps, and the Turkish Crimea Medal. Enrolled Pensioner Force WA Grady later emigrated to Australia, arriving as an assisted immigrant in 1865. He died near Melbourne on 18 May 1891 and was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery. His Victoria Cross was donated by his family to the Australian War Memorial in 1986, where it remains preserved in the national collection. Australian War Memorial The recommendation published in the London Gazette on 23 June 1857 recorded his first act: “For having, on the 18th October 1854, volunteered to repair the Embrazures of the Sailor's Battery on the left Attack, and effected the same, with the assistance of one other Volunteer, under a very heavy fire from a line of batteries.”

The entry continued with his second act: “For gallant conduct on the 22nd November 1854, in the repulse of the Russian attack on the advanced Trench on the Left Attack, when on being severely wounded, he refused to quit the front, encouraging, by such determined bearing, the weak force engaged with the Enemy to maintain its position.”