Nowell Salmon
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Admiral of the Fleet Sir Nowell Salmon VC, GCB (20 February 1835-14 February 1912) was an English 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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[edit] Details
He was 22 years old, and a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, (Naval Brigade) during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, volunteers were called for to climb a tree near the wall of the Shah Nujeff mosque in order to spot the enemy's position and then to dislodge the mutineers who were throwing grenades and firing on the gun crews below. Lieutenant Salmon, a leading seaman (John Harrison) and an able seaman responded to the call and succeeded in performing this dangerous service, but Lieutenant Salmon was wounded in the thigh and the able seaman was killed.
[edit] Further information
After leaving Marlborough College he joined the Navy as Midshipman, and served from the Baltic to the Cape. He later achieved the rank of Knight Admiral of the Fleet, after appointments as C-in-C of the British Naval Station 1882, West Africa and at China Station.
Salmon was the son of Rev H Salmon, rector of Swarraton, Hampshire and Emily, the daughter of Admiral Nowell who fought at the Battle of the Saintes and as a commander in the American Revolutionary War. Harry Leonard Nowell Salmon was the grandson of Nowell Salmon's brother. HLN Salmon rose to the rank of Major-General and commanded the Canadian Army First Division in WW2.
[edit] References
- Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- National Maritime Museum NRA 30121 NAI/3/1-10
- The Times Obituary of Sir Nowell Salmon (15 Feb. 1912)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Hampshire)
