John Harrison (VC 1857)

John Harrison VC (24 January 1832 - 27 December 1865) 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.

Early life

He was born in Castleborough, County Wexford.

Details

He was 25 years old, and a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy, (Naval Brigade) during the Indian rebellion of 1857 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, volunteers were called for to climb a tree near the wall of the Shah Nujeff mosque in order to spot the enemy's position and then to dislodge the mutineers who were throwing grenades and firing on the gun crews below. Leading Seaman Harrison, together with a lieutenant (Nowell Salmon) and an able seaman responded to the call and succeeded in performing this dangerous service, but the lieutenant was wounded in the thigh and the able seaman was killed.

Later life

He later achieved the rank of Boatswain's Mate. He died in London on 27 December, 1865 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Maritime Museum "(Greenwich, England)".

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/brompton.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Brompton Cemetery)"