Denis Dempsey

Denis Dempsey
Born	1826 Rathmichael, Bray, County Wicklow
Died	10 January 1896 (aged 69-70) Toronto, Canada
Buried at	Saint Michael's Cemetery, Toronto
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Private
Unit	10th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

Denis Dempsey VC (1826 - 10 January 1896) born Rathmichael, Bray, County Wicklow 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 approximately 31 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, 10th Regiment of Foot (later The Lincolnshire Regiment), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 12 August 1857 at Lucknow, India for which he was awarded the VC:

10th Regiment (1st Battalion). No. 2134, Private Denis Dempsey

Date of Acts of Bravery, 12th August, 1857, and 14th March, 1858

For having, at Lucknow, on the 14th March, 1858, carried a Powder Bag through a burning village, with great coolness and gallantry, for the purpose of mining a passage in rear of the enemy's position. This he did, exposed to a very heavy fire from the enemy behind loopholed walls, and to an almost still greater danger from the sparks which flew in every direction from the blazing houses. Also, for having been the first man who entered the village of Jugdispore on the 12th August, 1857, under a most galling fire. Private Dempsey was likewise one of those who helped to carry Ensign Erskine, of the 10th Regiment, in the retreat from Arrah, in July, 1857.

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Further information

He later emigrated to Canada and died in Toronto on 10 January 1886. He is buried in Saint Michael's Cemetery, Toronto.

References

1. ^ London Gazette

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287. 
• Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

Biography portal

• "Denis Dempsey". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7034009. Retrieved August 30, 2010. 

Persondata
Name	Dempsey, Denis
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1826
Place of birth	Rathmichael, Bray, County Wicklow
Date of death	10 January 1896
Place of death	Toronto, Canada