Allegiance United Kingdom Role Armed force officer Years of service 1890-1901 † Service/branch British Army | Rank Private Unit Royal Irish Regiment Name John Barry Awards Victoria Cross | |
Born 1 February 1873
Kilkenny, Ireland ( 1873-02-01 ) Buried at Belfast Cemetery, Traansvaal Battles/wars Tochi Expedition
Second Boer War Died January 8, 1901, Belfast, South Africa Battles and wars Tochi Expedition, Second Boer War People also search for Charles Irwin, Frederick George Room, Hugh Shaw | ||
John Barry, VC (1 February 1873 – 8 January 1901) born St Mary's parish, Kilkenny, Ireland, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Barry was 27 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place on 7/8 January 1901 at Monument Hill, South Africa, for which he was (posthumously) awarded the VC:
During the night attack on the 7th and 8th January, 1901, on Monument Hill, Private Barry, although surrounded and threatened by the Boers at the time, smashed the breach of the Maxim gun, thus rendering: it useless to its captors, and it was in doing this splendid act for his country that he met his death.
His VC is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum, London.