Charles Davis Lucas

Rear-Admiral Charles Davis Lucas (19 February 1834 – 7 August 1914) was a Royal Navy officer whose gallantry in 1854 was the earliest action that led to the award of the Victoria Cross, the highest British award, which is for gallantry in the face of the enemy. (The first Victoria Cross recipient to be gazetted was Lieutenant Cecil William Buckley, in the London Gazette of 24 February 1857, for his actions in the Sea of Azov on 28 May 1855.) The first recipient to physically receive his award was, because of the seniority of his rank, Commander Henry James Raby, at the inaugural awards ceremony on 26 June 1857. Lucas was fourth in line at the investiture. His actions, occurring on 21 June 1854, were the earliest conduct to result in the award of the Victoria Cross. He enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1848 at age 13, served aboard , and saw action in the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852–53 aboard the frigate Fox at Rangoon, Pegu, and Dalla. By age 20, he had become a mate. For his gallantry during the Battle of Bomarsund of the Crimean War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for the following deed:

Lucas was personally presented with the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at the first VC investiture held at Hyde Park, London, on 26 June 1857.

Later life His act of bravery in Hecla was the first to be rewarded with the Victoria Cross. His later career included service on , , , , and . He was promoted to captain in 1867, before retiring on 1 October 1873. He was later promoted to rear-admiral on the retired list in 1885. Mereworth, Maidstone, Kent. They are not the original medals, which were left on a train and never recovered. Replacement copies were made, though the reverse of the Victoria Cross copy is uninscribed.