John Robarts (VC)

John Robarts
John Robarts
Born	c. 1818; Chacewater, Cornwall
Died	17 October 1888 (aged 69–70); Southsea, Portsmouth
Buried	Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1842 - 1875
Rank	Chief Gunner
Unit	HMS Wellesley; HMS Ardent;
Battles/wars	First Opium War; Crimean War;
Awards	Victoria Cross

John Robarts VC (c. 1818 – 17 October 1888)^[1] was 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.

Robarts was born in Chacewater, Cornwall, and joined the Royal Navy in 1842. He was about 37 years old, and a gunner in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 29 May 1855 in the Sea of Azov, Crimea, Gunner Robarts of HMS Ardent with two lieutenants, Cecil Buckley and Hugh Burgoyne, one from HMS Miranda and the other from HMS Swallow, volunteered to land on a beach where the Russian army were in strength. They were out of covering gunshot range of the ships offshore and met considerable enemy opposition, but managed to set fire to corn stores and ammunition dumps and destroy enemy equipment before embarking again.^[2] Buckley and Burgoyne were also awarded the Victoria Cross.

Later life[edit]

In the 1881 Census he is recorded as living at Providence House, 4 Park Lane, Southsea where he died of heart disease, aged 68 in 1888.^[1]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b "Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
^ "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 650.

External links[edit]

Location of grave and VC medal (Hampshire)
Portsmouth Memorial Page

[Portsmouth-1] "Memorials and Monuments in Portsmouth". Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.

[2] "No. 21971". The London Gazette. 24 February 1857. p. 650.

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