Twenty-three members of The Regiment have been awarded the Victoria Cross. They are representative of all ranks and battalions, from Private soldier to Lieutenant Colonel – Regular, Territorial and Wartime.

PRIVATE JAMES PITTS VC
 

1^st Battalion. Manchester Regiment.
 

London Gazetted on the 26^th July, 1901.
 

Born on the 26 the February 1877 at Blackburn, Lancashire.
 

Died on 18^th February 1955 at Blackburn, Lancashire.
 

Memorial on grave at Blackburn Cemetery.
 

Digest of Citation reads: 

During an attack on Caesar’s Camp in Natal, South Africa, on the 6^th January 1900, when 16 men of ‘D’ Company, Manchester Regiment were defending one of the slopes of the hill, Private Pitts & Privates Scott occupied a sangar .  On their left all of our men had been shot and their positions occupied by the Boers. These two men stayed at their post, without food or water, all the time under extremely heavy fire from the enemy, for 15 hours. During this period they kept a keen lookout and exchanged their fire, even though, on their immediate left rear, the Boers occupied the sangars close by. Private Pitts and Private Scott held this position until the Boers were driven from the hill by relieving troops.