Who won the first naval Victoria Cross?
The first naval Victoria Cross was awarded to Charles Lucas while serving as a Mate on HMS Hecla in 1854.
On the outbreak of the Crimea War with Russia in 1854, the British Fleet under Admiral Napier was sent to the Baltic in March of that year with orders to bombard the coastal fortresses, one of which was Bomarsund guarding the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia.
Captain W H Hall, commanding the Hecla, sailed her accompanied by two paddle steamers through the narrow channel to Bomarsund and commenced bombardment of the fort where the Russians were sheltering.
During the action, a live shell from an enemy battery landed on the deck of the Hecla, its fuse still hissing – Charles Lucas with what was described as ‘great coolness and presence of mind' ran forward, picked up the shell and threw it overboard whereupon it exploded on hitting the water. Due to Lucas's quick thinking no-one was killed or seriously injured. He was immediately promoted to Acting Lieutenant and his Victoria Cross was gazetted in the first list of 24 February 1857. His was, therefore, the first act of bravery to qualify for a Victoria Cross. The medal was presented to him by Queen Victoria on 26th June 1857.
Charles Lucas was born in Ulster in 1834 and joined the Navy in 1848 rising to the rank of Rear Admiral on the retired list in 1885. He died on August 7th 1914 at Great Culverdon near Tunbridge Wells and is buried at Mereworth near Maidstone.
His Victoria Cross was presented to the museum in 1937.