List of Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross recipients

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 182 members of the British Armed Forces, British Indian Army and civilians under their command, during the Indian Mutiny (also known as the Indian Rebellion of 1857). The 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 Orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The VC is traditionally presented to the recipient by the British monarch during an investiture at Buckingham Palace, though in a large number of cases this was not possible and it was presented in the field by a prominent civil or military official. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War.[1]

Map showing the Indian Princely states during the rebellion of 1857

The Indian Mutiny (also known as India's First War of Independence, Revolt of 1857, or the Sepoy Mutiny) began as a mutiny of sepoys of British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut. It soon erupted into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to present-day Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, northern Madhya Pradesh, and the Delhi region.[2] The rebellion posed a considerable threat to Company power in that region,[3] and it was contained only with the fall of Gwalior on 20 June 1858.[2] The rebellion proved to be an important watershed in Indian history; it led to the dissolution of the East India Company in 1858, and forced the British to reorganise the army, the financial system, and the administration in India.[4] India was thereafter governed directly from London—by the British government India Office and a cabinet level Secretary of State for India—in the new British Raj, a system of governance that lasted until 1947.

Indian troops were not originally eligible for the VC, because since 1837 they had been eligible for the Indian Order of Merit—the oldest British gallantry award for general issue. When the VC was created, Indian troops were still controlled by the Honourable East India Company, and did not come under Crown control until 1860. European officers and men serving with the Honourable East India Company were not eligible for the Indian Order of Merit; the VC was extended to cover them in October 1857. The first citations of the VC varied in the details of each action; some specify one date, some date ranges, some the name of the battle and others have both sets of information. There were only two posthumous recipients of the VC for actions during the rebellion; the original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men; Everard Phillipps and Edward Spence were decorated thus.[5] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920.[6][7] The Indian Mutiny holds the record for the most VCs won in a single day; 24 at the Second Relief of Lucknow on 16 November 1857.[8]

Recipients

NameUnitDate of actionPlace of action
Henry Addison04343rd Regiment of Foot1859-01-022 January 1859Kurrereah, India
Frederick Aikman0044th Bengal Native Infantry1858-03-011 March 1858Amethi, India
Robert Aitken01313th Bengal Native Infantry1857-06-3030 June 1857 to
22 November 1857[9]
Lucknow, India
Charles Anderson0022nd Dragoon Guards1858-10-088 October 1858Sundeela Oudh, India
Augustus Anson08484th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2828 September 1857,
16 November 1857
Bolandshahr, India
Lucknow, India
Charles BakerBengal Military Police Battalion1858-09-2727 September 1858Suhejnee, Near Peroo, India
Valentine Bambrick06060th Rifles1858-05-066 May 1858Bareilly, India
William Bankes0077th Queen's Own Hussars1858-03-1919 March 1858Lucknow, India
James Blair0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry1857-08-1212 August 1857,
23 October 1857
Neemuch, India
Jeerum, India
Robert Blair0022nd Dragoon Guards1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
Andrew Bogle07878th Regiment of Foot1857-07-2929 July 1857Oonao, India
Abraham Boulger08484th Regiment of Foot1857-07-1212 July 1857 to
25 September 1857[10]
Lucknow, India
William Bradshaw09090th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Joseph BrennanRoyal Regiment of Artillery1858-04-033 April 1858Jhansi, India
Francis Brown0011st Bengal European Fusiliers1857-11-1616 November 1857Narnoul, India
Sam Browne04646th Bengal Native Infantry1858-08-3131 August 1858Seerporah, India
John BuckleyCommissariat Department1857-05-1111 May 1857Delhi, India
Thomas Butler0011st Bengal European Fusiliers1858-03-099 March 1858Lucknow, India
James Byrne08686th Regiment of Foot1858-04-033 April 1858Jhansi, India
Thomas Cadell0022nd Bengal European Fusiliers1857-06-1212 June 1857Delhi, India
William Cafe05656th Bengal Native Infantry1858-04-1515 April 1858Fort Ruhya, India
Aylmer Cameron07272nd Regiment of Foot1858-03-3030 March 1858Kotah, India
Patrick Carlin01313th Regiment of Foot1858-04-066 April 1858Azumgurh, India
James Champion0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars1858-09-088 September 1858Beejapore, India
George ChickenNaval BrigadeNaval Brigade1858-09-2727 September 1858Suhejnee, Near Peroo, India
Herbert Clogstoun01919th Madras Native Infantry1859-01-1515 January 1859Chichumbah, India
Hugh Cochrane08686th Regiment of Foot1858-04-011 April 1858Jhansi, India
William ConnollyBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-07-077 July 1857Jhelum, India
Walter Cook04242nd Regiment of Foot1859-01-1515 January 1859Maylah Ghat, India
Cornelius Coughlan07575th Regiment of Foot1857-06-088 June 1857Delhi, India
Joseph Crowe07878th Regiment of Foot1857-08-1212 August 1857Boursekee Chowkee, India
William Cubitt01313th Bengal Native Infantry1857-06-3030 June 1857Chinhut, India
John Daunt01111th Bengal Native Infantry1857-10-022 October 1857Ghota Behar, India
James Davis04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-04-1515 April 1858Fort Ruhya, India
Denis Dempsey01010th Regiment of Foot1857-08-1212 August 1857,
14 March 1858
Lucknow, India
Bernard DiamondBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
John Divane06060th Rifles1857-09-1010 September 1857Delhi, India
Patrick Donohoe0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
William Dowling03232nd Regiment of Foot1857-07-044 July 1857,
27 September 1857
Lucknow, India
Thomas Duffy0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857-09-0626 September 1857Lucknow, India
John Dunlay09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Denis Dynon05353rd Regiment of Foot1857-10-022 October 1857Ghota Behar, India
Francis Farquharson04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-03-099 March 1858Lucknow, India
Alfred Ffrench05353rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Richard FitzgeraldBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
Thomas Flinn06464th Regiment of Foot1857-11-2828 November 1857Cawnpore, India
George ForrestBengal Veterans Establishment1857-05-1111 May 1857Delhi, India
Charles Fraser0077th Queen's Own Hussars1858-12-3131 December 1858River Raptee, India
John Freeman0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-10-1010 October 1857Agra, India
William Gardner04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-05-055 May 1858Bareilly, India
Stephen Garvin06060th Rifles1857-06-2323 June 1857Delhi, India
Peter GillLoodiana Regiment1857-06-044 June 1857Benares, India
William Goat0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1858-03-066 March 1858Lucknow, India
Charles GoodfellowBombay Engineers1859-10-066 October 1859Kathiawar, India
Henry Gore-Browne03232nd Regiment of Foot1857-08-2121 August 1857Lucknow, India
Charles Gough0055th Bengal European Cavalry1857-08-1515 August 1857,
18 August 1857,
27 January 1858,
3 February 1858[11]
Khurkowdah, India
Not known
Shumshabad, India
Meangunge, India
Hugh Gough0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry1857-11-1212 November 1857,
25 February 1858
Alumbagh, India
Jellalabad, India
Patrick Graham09090th Regiment of Foot1857-11-1717 November 1857Lucknow, India
Peter Grant09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Robert Grant0055th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2424 September 1857Alumbagh, India
Patrick Green07575th Regiment of Foot1857-09-1111 September 1857Delhi, India
John Guise09090th Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Thomas Hackett02323rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1818 November 1857Lucknow, India
William HallNaval BrigadeNaval Brigade1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Thomas Hancock0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-06-1919 June 1857Delhi, India
Hastings HaringtonBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857
Lucknow, India
John HarrisonNaval BrigadeNaval Brigade1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Henry Hartigan0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-06-088 June 1857
10 October 1857[12]
Delhi, India
Agra, India
Henry Havelock-Allan01010th Regiment of Foot1857-07-1616 July 1857Cawnpore, India
David HawkesRifleRifle Brigade1858-03-1111 March 1858Lucknow, India
Robert Hawthorne05252nd Regiment of Foot1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
Alfred Heathcote06060th Rifles1857-06-00June to
September 1857[13]
Delhi, India
Clement Heneage0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars1858-06-1717 June 1858Gwalior, India
Samuel Hill09090th Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
James HillsBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-07-099 July 1857Delhi, India
George Hollis0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars1858-06-1717 June 1858Gwalior, India
James Hollowell07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-1626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Joel Holmes08484th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Anthony Home09090th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Duncan HomeBengal Sappers and Miners1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
James InnesBengal Sappers and Miners1858-02-2323 February 1858Sultanpore, India
Charles Irwin05353rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Hanson Jarrett02626th Bengal Native Infantry1858-10-1414 October 1858Baroun, India
Joseph Jee07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Edward JenningsBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857
Lucknow, India
Henry Jerome08686th Regiment of Foot1858-04-033 April 1858Jhansi, India
Alfred Jones0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-06-088 June 1857Delhi, India
Thomas KavanaghBengal Civil Service1857-11-099 November 1857Lucknow, India
Richard KeatingeBombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery1858-03-1717 March 1858Chundairee, India
Robert Kells0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
James Kenny05353rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
William Kerr02424th Bombay Native Infantry1857-07-1010 July 1857Kolapore, India
John Kirk01010th Regiment of Foot1857-06-044 June 1857Benares, India
George Lambert08484th Regiment of Foot1857-07-2929 June 1857,
16 August 1857,
25 September 1857[10]
Oonao, India
Bithoor, India
Lucknow, India
Thomas LaughnanBengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857
Lucknow, India
Samuel Lawrence03232nd Regiment of Foot1857-07-077 July 1857,
26 September 1857
Lucknow, India
James Leith01414th Light Dragoons1858-04-011 April 1858Betwa, India
Harry Lyster07272nd Bengal Native Infantry1858-05-2323 May 1858Calpee, India
David MacKay09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Herbert MacPherson07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Patrick Mahoney0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857-09-2121 September 1857Mungulwar, India
Ross ManglesBengal Civil Service1857-07-3030 July 1857Arrah, India
Francis MaudeRoyal Regiment of Artillery1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Arthur MayoNaval BrigadeNaval Brigade1857-11-2222 November 1857Dacca, India
William McBean09393rd Regiment of Foot1858-03-1111 March 1858Lucknow, India
William McDonellBengal Civil Service1857-07-3030 July 1857Arrah, India
John McGovern0011st Bengal European Fusiliers1857-06-2323 June 1857Delhi, India
James McGuire0011st Bengal European Fusiliers1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
Patrick McHale0055th Regiment of Foot1857-10-022 October 1857,
22 December 1857[12]
Lucknow, India
Hugh McInnesBengal Artillery1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857
Lucknow, India
Peter McManus0055th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Valentine McMaster07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Stewart McPherson07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Bernard McQuirt09595th Regiment of Foot1858-01-066 January 1858Rowa, India
Duncan Millar04242nd Regiment of Foot1859-01-1515 January 1859Maylah Ghat, India
James MillerBengal Ordnance Depot1857-10-2828 October 1857Agra, India
Thomas Monaghan0022nd Dragoon Guards1858-10-088 October 1858Jamo, India
George Monger02323rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1818 November 1857Lucknow, India
Samuel MorleyMilitary TrainMilitary Train1858-04-1515 April 1858Azumgurh, India
James Munro09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Michael MurphyMilitary TrainMilitary Train1858-04-1515 April 1858Azumgurh, India
Patrick Mylott08484th Regiment of Foot1857-07-1212 July 1857 to
25 September 1857
Lucknow, India
William Napier01313th Regiment of Foot1858-04-066 April 1858Azumgurh, India
William NashRifle BrigadeRifle Brigade1858-03-1111 March 1858Lucknow, India
Robert Newell0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1858-03-1919 March 1858Lucknow, India
William OlphertsBengal Artillery1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
William Oxenham03232nd Regiment of Foot1857-06-3030 June 1857Lucknow, India
James ParkBengal Artillery1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857
Lucknow, India
John Paton09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
James Pearson08686th Regiment of Foot1858-04-033 April 1858Jhansi, India
John Pearson0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars1858-06-1717 June 1858Gwalior, India
Everard Phillipps01111th Bengal Native Infantry1857-05-3030 May 1857 to
18 September 1857[5]
Delhi, India
Harry PrendergastMadras Engineers1857-11-2121 November 1857Mundisore, India
Dighton Probyn0022nd Punjab Cavalry185-00-001857 to
1858[14]
Agra, India
John Purcell0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-06-1919 June 1857Delhi, India
Charles Pye05353rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1717 November 1857Lucknow, India
William RaynorBengal Veterans Establishment1857-05-1111 May 1857Delhi, India
Herbert Reade06161st Regiment of Foot1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
William Rennie09090th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2121 September 1857,
25 September 1857
Lucknow, India
George RennyBengal Horse Artillery1857-09-1616 September 1857Delhi, India
George Richardson03434th Regiment of Foot1859-04-2727 April 1859Kewane Trans-Gogra, India
Frederick RobertsBengal Horse Artillery1858-01-022 January 1858Khodagunge, India
James Roberts0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1857-09-2828 September 1857Bolandshahr, India
Edward RobinsonNaval Brigade1858-03-1313 March 1858Lucknow, India
Patrick RoddyBengal Army1858-09-2727 September 1858Kuthirga, India
George Rodgers07171st Regiment of Foot1858-06-1616 June 1858Marar, India
Matthew Rosamund03737th Bengal Native Infantry1857-06-044 June 1857Benares, India
David Rushe0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1858-03-1919 March 1858Lucknow, India
John Ryan0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857-09-2626 September 1857Lucknow, India
Miles Ryan0011st Bengal European Fusiliers1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
Philip SalkeldBengal Sappers and Miners1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
Nowell SalmonNaval Brigade1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
Same ShawRifle Brigade1858-06-1313 June 1858Lucknow, India
Robert Shebbeare06060th Bengal Native Infantry1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
John Simpson04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-04-1515 April 1858Fort Ruhya, India
John Sinnott08484th Regiment of Foot1857-10-066 October 1857Lucknow, India
Michael SleavonCorps ofCorps of Royal Engineers1858-04-033 April 1858Jhansi, India
Henry Smith05252nd Regiment of Foot1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
John Smith0011st Madras European Fusiliers1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
John SmithBengal Sappers and Miners1857-09-1414 September 1857Delhi, India
David Spence0099th Queen's Royal Lancers1858-01-1717 January 1858Shumsabad, India
Edward Spence04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-04-1515 April 1858[5]Fort Ruhya, India
William Stewart09393rd Regiment of Foot1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India
William Sutton06060th Rifles1857-08-022 August 1857 to
13 September 1857
Delhi, India
Edward ThackerayBengal Sappers and Miners1857-09-1616 September 1857Delhi, India
Jacob ThomasBengal Artillery1857-09-2727 September 1857Lucknow, India
Alexander Thompson04242nd Regiment of Foot1858-04-1515 April 1858Fort Ruhya, India
William Thompson06060th Rifles1857-07-099 July 1857Delhi, India[15]
Henry TombsBengal Horse Artillery1857-07-099 July 1857Delhi, India
James Travers0022nd Bengal Native Infantry1857-07-00July 1857[16]Indore, India
Samuel Turner06060th Rifles1857-06-1919 June 1857Delhi, India
John Tytler06666th Bengal Native Infantry1858-02-1010 February 1858Choorpoorah, India
Richard Wadeson07575th Regiment of Foot1857-07-1717 July 1857Delhi, India
George Waller06060th Rifles1857-09-1414 September 1857,
18 September 1857[13]
Delhi, India
William Waller02525th Bombay Light Infantry1858-06-2020 June 1858Gwalior, India
Henry Ward07878th Regiment of Foot1857-09-2525 September 1857Lucknow, India
Joseph Ward0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars1858-06-1717 June 1858Gwalior, India
John Watson0011st Punjab Cavalry1857-11-1414 November 1857Lucknow, India
Frederick Whirlpool0033rd Bombay European Regiment1858-04-033 April 1858,
2 May 1858[17]
Jhansi, India
Lohari,[18] India
Henry WilmotRifle Brigade1858-03-1111 March 1858Lucknow, India
Evelyn Wood01717th Lancers1858-10-1919 October 1858Sinwaho, India
Thomas YoungNaval Brigade1857-11-1616 November 1857Lucknow, India

References

General
  • "Victoria Cross Registers". National Archives (UK). Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  • "Honourable East India Company and Indian Army holders of the Victoria Cross". VictoriaCross.org. Retrieved 11 April 2008.
  • Ashcroft, Michael (2006). Victoria Cross Heroes. Headline Book Publishing. ISBN 0-7553-1632-0.
  • Bandyopadhyay, Sekhar (2004). From Plassey to Partition: A History of Modern India. New Delhi and London: Orient Longmans. ISBN 81-250-2596-0.
  • Bayly, C. A. (1990). Indian Society and the Making of the British Empire (The New Cambridge History of India). Cambridge and London: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-38650-0.
  • Bose, Sugata; Jalal, Ayesha (2003). Modern South Asia: History, Culture, Political Economy. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-30787-2.
  • Crook, M.J. (1975). The Evolution of the Victoria Cross. Midas books. ISBN 0-85936-041-5.
Specific
  1. Ashcroft, M; 2006; preface; XI–XIII
  2. Bandyopadhyay, Sekhar; 2004; pp.169–172
    Bose, Jalal; 2003; pp.88–103; Quote: "The 1857 rebellion was by and large confined to northern Indian Gangetic Plain and central India."
  3. Bayly, C.A.; 1990; p.170; Quote: "What distinguished the events of 1857 was their scale and the fact that for a short time they posed a military threat to British dominance in the Ganges Plain."
  4. Bayly, C.A.; 1990; pp.194–197
  5. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  6. Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90
  7. "No. 31946". The London Gazette. 18 June 1920. p. 6702.
  8. Arthur, Max; p. XIV
  9. "Robert Aitken details". National Archives. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
  10. "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2957.
  11. "No. 22318". The London Gazette. 21 November 1859. p. 3792.
  12. "No. 22396". The London Gazette. 19 June 1860. p. 2316.
  13. "No. 22347". The London Gazette. 20 January 1860. p. 178.
  14. Probyn was awarded his VC for numerous gallant acts throughout the period of the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
    "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2960.
  15. The 'siege' mentioned in the citation is not identified and is often wrongly assumed to be Lucknow. He served at Delhi where he was badly wounded in September 1857.
  16. "No. 22485". The London Gazette. 1 March 1861. p. 1007.
  17. "No. 22318". The London Gazette. 21 October 1859. p. 3793.
  18. Leek,Alan; (2018):"Frederick Whirlpool VC"; Big Sky Pub;pp 140

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