John Prettyjohns, VC (11 June 1823 – 20 January 1887) was a Royal Marine and a 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.
Prettyjohns was born at Dean Prior, near to Buckfastleigh, Devon, to William Pethyjohns (1800–1889) and his wife Margaret ( Pow, 1805–1866). His early years were spent labouring in Buckfastleigh.
On 10 June 1844, Prettyjohns enlisted as a private in the 59th Company, Plymouth Division, for unlimited service – and collected 2s 6d for attestation. On the following day, he collected a bounty of £3 17s 6d for oath of allegiance. He embarked on to south-east America and East Indies on 22 March 1845, being flogged for an unknown misdemeanour on 28 June. He disembarked at Chatham on 23 August 1849, and joined HMS Bellerophon on 7 November 1850. On this ship, he embarked for the Mediterranean in January 1852, being promoted to corporal on 15 January. On 17 October 1854, HMS Bellerophon bombarded Sevastopol during the Crimean War. On 5 November 1854, Corporal John Prettyjohns won the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Inkerman. The Prettyjohns family grave in Southern Cemetery, Manchester On 16 January 1856, Prettyjohns was promoted to sergeant and embarked on for Hong Kong on 12 March 1857. He was promoted to colour sergeant on 29 April, and on 26 June a VC was sent to the Admiralty and despatched to China for presentation. On 16 July, he sailed for Singapore and Calcutta on , arriving in Fort William, Calcutta later that year. On 28 December he took part in the capture of Canton before embarking on for Vancouver and San Juan Island. On 17 December 1863 his final tour of duty came to an end. He was discharged on 16 June 1865 after 21 years and 6 days service – 16 years 94 days of which were spent at sea or abroad.
Prettyjohns married his first cousin, Elizabeth Prettyjohns (7 May 1826 – 19 August 1912), at Plymouth Register Office on 10 February 1850. They had two children: Elizabeth (Bessie) Prettyjohns (1857 – 13 July 1889); and Alice Maud Prettyjohns (28 February 1865 – 4 July 1960). Following his discharge, Prettyjohns retired to the Greater Manchester area, and became a Golf Club steward at Whalley Range Bowling Club, Albert Road, Withington, Lancashire. He died on 20 January 1887 at Chorlton upon Medlock, Lancashire and is buried in the Southern Cemetery, Manchester.
The Royal Marines hold a procession each autumn to honour the memory of Prettyjohns. His Victoria Cross and other medals are displayed at the Royal Marines Museum, Southsea, England.