2nd Regiment RA

                               

L Bty         N Bty        O Bty         46 Bty      HQ Bty

(Nery)     (Eagle Troop)  (Rocket Troop)  (Talavera)

The Victoria Cross (VC)  is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. It takes precedence over all other postnominals and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and civilians under military command, and is presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. It is the joint highest award for bravery in the United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour not in the face of the enemy.

The VC was introduced in 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then the medal has been awarded 1,356 times to 1,353 individual recipients. Only 14 medals have been awarded since the end of the Second World War. The traditional explanation of the source of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol.

Edward Kinder Bradbury VC                            (16 August 1881-1 September 1914) 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.
He was 33 years old, and a Captain in the 'L' Bty., Royal Horse Artillery (Royal Artillery), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 September 1914 at Néry, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, when all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, Captain Bradbury, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the fire of the battery until he died.
 

George Thomas Dorrell (VC, MBE)                       (July 7, 1880–7 January 1971) 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.
He was 34 years old, and a Battery Sergeant Major in the 'L' Bty., Royal Artillery (RHA), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 September 1914 at Néry, France, during a fierce attack by the enemy, all the officers of 'L' Battery were either killed or wounded, including the officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) in command, who, although having had one leg taken off by a shell, continued to direct the firing until he died. Battery Sergeant-Major Dorrell then took over command with the support of a sergeant (David Nelson) and continued to fire one of the guns until all the ammunition was expended.

David Nelson VC                                                  (3 April 1886–8 April 1918) was an Irish 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.
Nelson was born Deraghland, Stradnoden, Co Monaghan. He was 28 years old, and a sergeant in 'L' Battery, Royal Artillery (RHA), British Army during the World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 1 September 1914 at Néry, France, Sergeant Nelson helped to bring the guns into action - with an officer (Edward Kinder Bradbury) and a warrant officer (George Thomas Dorrell) - under heavy fire and in spite of being severely wounded. He remained with the guns until all the ammunition was expended, although he had been ordered to retire to cover.
He later achieved the rank of major. He was killed in action at Lillers, France, on 8 April 1918.

All 3VCs are currently held at the Imperial War Museum