Andrew Fitzgibbon
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Andrew Fitzgibbon VC (13 May 1845 -7 March 1883) born Goojerat,India, he was the youngest 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.
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He was fifteen years old, and a Hospital Apprentice in the Indian Medical Establishment, Indian Army, attched to the 67th Regiment (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment) during the Third China War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 August 1860 at the capture of the Northern of the Taku Forts, China, Hospital Apprentice Fitzgibbon accompanied a wing of the 67th Regiment when it took up a position within 500 yards of the fort. He then proceeded, under heavy fire, to attend a dhoolie-bearer, whose wound he had been directed to bind up, and while the regiment was advancing under the enemy's fire, he ran across the open ground to attend to another wounded man. In doing so he was himself severely wounded.
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Acknowledged to be one of the two youngest winners of the VC (aged 15 years, 3 months), the other being Thomas Flinn. He later achieved the rank of Apothecary.
Jack Cornwell was 16 years old when he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross after the Battle of Jutland.
[edit] References
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
