Charles Anderson (VC)

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For other people named Charles Anderson, see Charles Anderson (disambiguation).

Photo by Terry Macdonald - Oct 1996

Charles Anderson (1827, Liverpool—19 April 1899) was by birth an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was about 32 years old, and a private in the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays) during the Indian Mutiny when the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross took place.

On 8 October 1858 near Sundeela Oudh, India, a group of mutineers (30 to 40 in number) opened fire on the officer commanding the regiment and his party, and then rushed upon them with drawn swords. In the fighting which ensued the colonel was cut down, and Private Anderson and a trumpeter Thomas Monaghan immediately came to his rescue, shooting one of the assailants and driving at others with their swords, thus enabling the colonel to rise and defend himself again, until the enemy were dispatched.

He later achieved the rank of Corporal. Charles Anderson is buried at Princess Road Cemetery, Seaham Harbour, near Sunderland County Durham. Section A, grave 1271.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Queen's Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum (Cardiff, Wales).