Victoria Cross, Sergeant J Danagher, 2nd Battalion, The Connaught Rangers, 1881 (metal)

Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant J Danagher (or Danaher), 2nd Battalion, The Connaught Rangers (formerly Trooper, Nourse’s Horse), 1881. On 16 January 1881 during the Transvaal War (1880-81), at Elandsfontein, near Pretoria, Trooper Danagher of the Nourse’s Horse and Lance Corporal Murray of the Connaught Rangers, advanced for 500 yards under fire to rescue two men, Davis and Byrne of the 21st Foot (2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers), who had both been badly wounded. The two rescuers reached the men together and on stooping to lift Byrne's head, Murray was shot through the body. Realising the seriousness of his wound, Murray ordered Danagher to escape. Lance Corporal Murray remained with Byrne, who died shortly afterwards. Murray and Davis were subsequently taken prisoner by the Boers but released soon after. Murray also received the Victoria Cross for his part in the action. Sergeant Danagher was also awarded a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (also displayed here). He was born on 25 June 1860 in Limerick, Ireland. He joined the Connaught Rangers in 1881. At the end of his military career he was discharged on pension and died in Ireland on 9 January 1919.