Andrew Moynihan
Encyclopedia
Andrew Moynihan, VC
(1 January 1830 - 18 May 1867) was by birth an English
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.
Moynihan was a 25-year-old sergeant
in the 90th Foot, British Army
during the Crimean War
when his gallant action took place on 8 September 1855 at Sebastopol. Sergeant Moynihan, who was with the storming party at the assault on the Redan in the Crimea
, personally encountered and killed five Russia
ns, and while under heavy fire also rescued a wounded officer from near the Redan
.
Moynihan was promoted to sergeant major
and in 1856 was commissioned into the 8th Foot. He was promoted lieutenant
the following year and captain
in 1863.
He died after contracting Malta Fever, caused by drinking unsterilised goat's milk. He is buried in La Braxia Cemetery and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cameronians Regimental Museum in Hamilton, Lanarkshire
, Scotland
.
His son became a prominent surgeon being raised to the peerage as Berkeley Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(1 January 1830 - 18 May 1867) was by birth an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Moynihan was a 25-year-old sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in the 90th Foot, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
when his gallant action took place on 8 September 1855 at Sebastopol. Sergeant Moynihan, who was with the storming party at the assault on the Redan in the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, personally encountered and killed five Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
ns, and while under heavy fire also rescued a wounded officer from near the Redan
Redan
Redan is a term related to fortifications. It is a work in a V-shaped salient angle toward an expected attack...
.
Moynihan was promoted to sergeant major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
and in 1856 was commissioned into the 8th Foot. He was promoted lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
the following year and captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in 1863.
He died after contracting Malta Fever, caused by drinking unsterilised goat's milk. He is buried in La Braxia Cemetery and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cameronians Regimental Museum in Hamilton, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
His son became a prominent surgeon being raised to the peerage as Berkeley Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan
Berkeley Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan
Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan, KCB, KCMG, , known as Sir Berkeley Moynihan 1st Baronet, from 1922 to 1929, was a noted British abdominal surgeon....
.