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Vickers-Maxim .303 inch machine gun, Private John Barry VC
machine gun, light, Vickers Maxim, .303 in, machine gun, light
Accession Number

NAM.1951-12-41-1

Description

Vickers-Maxim .303 in machine gun, 1898. Manufactured by Vickers, Sons and Maxim, with some parts of Maxim, Nordenfeldt and Company, London. Associated with Pte John Barry VC, Royal Irish Regiment, Boer War (1899-1902). Pte John Barry (1873-1901), a native of Kilkenny, joined the Royal Irish Regiment in 1890 and saw action with it on the North West Frontier of India in 1897-1989. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Boer attack on Monument Hill., Belfast on 7-8 Jan 1901. With his section all killed, wounded or captured he destroyed the breech of his Maxim gun before being shot dead by Boers. Recommended for the VC his name appeared in the first list of posthumous recipients published in August 1902. The wrecked Maxim was quickly recaptured and presented to the Royal Irish Regiment by the Secretary for War, Hugh Arnold-Forster (1855-1909), in 1904.

Campaigns

Boer War (1899-1902)