Joseph Ward (VC)

Joseph Ward VC (1832-23 November 1872) was born in Kinsale, County Cork, and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was about 26 years old, and a sergeant in the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars, British Army during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 17 June 1858 at Gwalior, India, Sergeant Ward - together with a captain (Clement Walker Heneage), a farrier (George Hollis) and a private (John Pearson) - was in a gallant charge made by a squadron of the 8th Hussars when, supported by a division of the Bombay Horse Artillery and the 95th Regiment, they routed the enemy. Charging through a rebel camp into two batteries, they captured and brought into their own camp two of the enemy's guns, under a heavy and converging fire from the fort and town.

Further information

He died Longford, 23 November 1872.

References

Listed in order of publication year
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/ireland.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Co. Longford, Ireland)"