Alexander Roberts Dunn | |
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Born | York, Upper Canada | 15 September 1833
Died | 25 January 1868 Senafe, Abyssinia | (aged 34)
Buried | Senafe, Eritrea |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() |
Years of service | 1852–1856; 1858–1868 |
Rank | Colonel |
Unit | 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) ("the Cherry Pickers") 100th (Prince of Wales's Royal Canadian) Regiment of Foot 33rd (Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot |
Commands | 33rd Regiment of Foot |
Battles/wars | Crimean War: Battle of the Alma, Battle of Balaclava, Battle of Inkermann, siege of Sevastopol
British Expedition to Abyssinia |
Awards | Victoria Cross Crimea Medal (four clasps) Turkish Crimea Medal |
Relations | John Henry Dunn (father) |
Alexander Roberts Dunn VC (15 September 1833 – 25 January 1868) was the first Canadian awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for bravery in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Later in life, he assisted in raising a regiment in Canada for the British Army. He was the first Canadian to command a British Army regiment.
Dunn died of a gunshot wound under mysterious circumstances in Abyssinia (now Eritrea), where he was part of the British Expedition to Abyssinia. His grave was re-discovered by Canadian Armed Forces troops who were part of the United Nations peacekeeping force to the Eritrea-Ethiopia war of 2000-2001.