MORE ON VICTORIA CROSS RECIPIENT JOHN BYRNE

Buried in Thameside mud and only unearthed more than 160 years later, the Victoria Cross found by a lucky treasure hunter had an incredible story to tell.

The story that has now emerged from his chance discovery is one of both tragedy and heroism, culminating in the shooting of a young work colleague by a decorated veteran of the Crimean war who then turned the gun on himself.

With the whereabouts of only two of the Inkerman VCs unaccounted for, the one found by Mr Neto in all likelihood belonged to a private called John Byrne - a man who appears to have been so tormented by what he had witnessed in battle he suffered a catastrophic breakdown.

Byrne, from County Kilkenny in Ireland, was awarded the VC for returning to the front line to rescue a wounded comrade under heavy fire during the battle.

But following his return from the Crimea, his life appears to have spiralled out of control, as a result of suffering what would now be diagnosed as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

While working as part of an Ordnance Survey team, Byrne became convinced his medal had been taunted by his work colleague John Watts.

In a fury, the former soldier pulled out a revolver and shot the terrified 18-year-old, wounding him on the arm.

Hours later, surrounded by a large crowd and several police officers, Byrne turned his gun on himself and pulled the trigger, taking his own life rather than give himself up.

To read the complete article, see:
Discovery of lost VC reveals stories of heroism and tragedy (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/21/discovery-lost-vc-reveals-stories-heroism-tragedy/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL FOUND IN THAMES RIVER (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n47a17.html)
DESCENDANTS OF THAMES VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL SOUGHT (www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n01a33.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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