James Munro (VC)

James Munro VC (11 October 1826 - 5 February 1871) was a Scottish 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.

James Munro is believed to have been born on October 11 1826 and died in February 5 1871, aged 45, some 13 years after his bravery. He was 20 when he joined up, and by 1854 he was a sergeant serving in the Crimean War. Eighteen months later, the regiment went to India and in 1857 Munro was promoted to Colour Sergeant.

James Munro received his medal from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in 1860, two years after he was discharged due to illness caused by his wounds.

Details

He was about 30 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the 93rd Highlanders Regiment (later became The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - Princess Louise's), British Army. During the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Colour-Sergeant Munro rushed to the rescue of a captain of his regiment who was severely wounded at the Secundra Bagh. The colour-sergeant carried the wounded officer to a place of safety - the same place to which the sergeant was carried shortly afterwards, badly wounded.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum "(Stirling Castle, Scotland)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

ee also

Clan Munro

External links

* [http://www.hwy56.com/warlinks/memories/barker/ash.htm History of Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders]