Thomas Lane VC, born in Cork, Ireland in May 1836 was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... This article is about the city in Ireland. ... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... The Commonwealth of Nations (CN), usually known as The Commonwealth, is a voluntary association of 53 independent sovereign states, the majority of which are former colonies of the United Kingdom. ...

He served throughout the Crimea in the 47th Foot. On 21 August 1860 at the Taku Forts, China, Lane, then aged 24 and a Private in the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment), British Army and a lieutenant (Nathaniel Burslem) of his regiment displayed great gallantry. They swam the ditches of the North Taku Fort and attempted, during the assault and before an entrance had been effected by anyone, to enlarge an opening in the wall, through which they eventually entered. In doing so, they were both severely wounded. For this action both men were awarded the Victoria Cross. His medal is displayed at The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum & Memorial Garden in Winchester, Hampshire, England. Combatants Allies: Second French Empire United Kingdom Ottoman Empire Kingdom of Sardinia Russian Empire Bulgarian volunteers Casualties 90,000 French 35,000 Turkish 17,500 British 2,050 Sardinian killed, wounded and died of disease 256,000 killed, wounded and died of disease The Crimean War (1854–1856) was fought... The Taku Forts (or Dagu Fort; Chinese: 大沽船坞; pinyin: dagu paotai) are forts located by the Hai He (Peiho River) estuary, in Tanggu District, Tianjin municipality, in northeastern China. ... A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank (equivalent to Nato Rank Grades OR-1 to OR-3 depending on the force served in). ... The 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1758 and amalgamated into The Hampshire Regiment in 1881. ... The Royal Hampshire Regiment is a former British Army line infantry regiment who trace their origins back to 1702. ... Nathaniel Burslem 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. ... Winchester Cathedral as seen from the Cathedral Close Arms of Winchester City Council Winchester is a city in southern England, and the administrative capital of the county of Hampshire, with a population of around 35,000. ... Hampshire, sometimes historically Southamptonshire or Hamptonshire, (abbr. ...

He fought in the Zulu War as a Sergeant with the 3/NNC. This unit was disbanded at Rorke's Drift after the siege and the officers and non-commissioned officers formed three troops of the Natal Horse. He also fought in Landrey's Light horse in Basutoland 1881–82. His VC gratuity was paid from the consulate in Boston, USA, and also in Auckland, New Zealand, during the 1870s. Lane was one of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. He was stripped of the medal on 7 April, 1881 after being convicted of desertion on active service and theft of a "horse, arms and accoutrements". He died in Kimberley, South Africa on 13 April 1889 as a member of the Kimberley Police. The Battle of Rorkes Drift The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between Britain and the Zulus, and signalled the end of the Zulus as an independent nation. ... Combatants Britain Zulu Nation Commanders John Chard Gonville Bromhead Prince Dabulamanzi Strength 139 4,000–5,000 Casualties 17 killed, 15 wounded 450 found dead immediately after battle, Hundreds more believed also died (2000+) Rorkes Drift was a mission station in Natal, South Africa, situated near a natural ford... The mountainous and largely arid land that came to be Basutoland was populated by San (bushmen, Qhuaique) until the end of the 16th century. ... Kimberley is a town in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (104th in leap years). ... Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

References

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
• Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)