Harry Prendergast

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Photo submitted by Gerald Napier - (from the Royal Engineers Library with permission). The photo shows Prendergast in 1886 soon after he had been promoted Lieutenant General and appointed KCB for his successful invasion of Upper Burma and capture of Mandalay in November 1885.

General Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast VC GCB (15 October 1834-24 July 1913) was a 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.

[edit] Details

He was 23 years old and a lieutenant in the Madras Engineers Indian Army during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21 November 1857 at Mundisore, India, Lieutenant Prendergast saved the life of another lieutenant at the risk of his own, by attempting to cut down a Velaitee who was covering the officer with his piece from only a few yards to the rear. Lieutenant Prendergast was wounded in this affair by the discharge of the piece and would have probably been killed had not the rebel been killed by a major who came to the rescue. Lieutenant Prendergast also distinguished himself by his gallantry in the actions at Ratgurh and Betwa, when he was severely wounded.

[edit] Further information

He was educated at Brighton College, and, in later years, he was President of their old boys association. There is a bronze memorial tablet to him in Brighton College Chapel, but his sword that used to hang above it was stolen.

His last field command was to lead the Burma Field Force in 1885-86 at the start the Third Burmese War.

He received his VC from Queen Victoria at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860 along with twenty-four other recipients of the decoration. He later became General Sir Harry N. D. Prendergast VC GCB, Colonel-Commandant Royal Engineers, Colonel 2nd Queen's Own Sappers & Miners.

[edit] The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, England.

[edit] References

• Colonel H M Vibart, The Life of General Sir Harry N D Prendergast, RE, VC, GCB (The Happy Warrior). (Eveleigh Nash, London, 1914)
• Martin D W Jones, 'The War of Lost Footsteps. A Re-assessment of the Third Burmese War 1885-1896.', The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society, xxxx no. 157 (August 1989), pp.36-40
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• ForValour

[edit] External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
• Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)