William Connolly
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- For the Scottish Comedian. William Connolly, see Billy Connolly
William Connolly VC (May 1817 - December 31, 1891), 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 about 40 years old, and a gunner in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 7 July 1857 at Jhelum, India, now Pakistan during an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious.
In this battle 35 British soldiers of HM XXIV Regiment on Foot were killed. Their names are written on a lectern placed in St. John's Church Jhelum Pakistan.
[edit] The medal
Today, his medal is on public display in the British in India Museum in Colne, Lancashire, England.
