John Purcell

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This is about a soldier; for the American Archbishop, see John Baptist Purcell.
For the jazz musician, see John Purcell (musician).

John Purcell VC (1814-19 September 1857) was a Irish soldier in the British Army who received the Victoria Cross.

He was born at Kilcommon, Oughterd County, Galway.

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He was about 43 years old, and a private in the 9th Lancers (The Queen's Royal), during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 19 June 1857 at Delhi, India, when a wagon of one of the batteries was blown up and the horse of the brigadier commanding the cavalry brigade was shot, Privates Purcell and Thomas Hancock, along with Sowar Roopur Khan of the Indian Army's 4th Irregular Cavalry, stayed with the officer until he could be dragged to safety by the sowar's horse. Private Purcell's horse was killed under him and Hancock was severely wounded. Both Purcell and Hancock were awarded Victoria Crosses.

He was killed in action, Delhi, India, on 19 September 1857.


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