Richard Fitzgerald
| Richard Fitzgerald | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
December 1831 Cork, County Cork |
| Died | 1884 (aged 53) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Bengal Army |
| Rank | Gunner |
| Unit | Bengal Horse Artillery |
| Battles/wars | Indian Mutiny |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Richard Fitzgerald VC (December 1831, St. Finbar's, Cork, Ireland – 1884 in India) was an Irish 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.
Details
He was approximately 25 years old, and a Gunner in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 28 September 1857 at Bolandshahr, India for which he and Sergeant Bernard Diamond was awarded the Victoria Cross:
"For an act of valour performed in action against the rebels and mutineers at Boolundshur, on the 28th September, 1857, when these two soldiers evinced the most determined bravery in working their gun under a very heavy fire of musketry, whereby they cleared the road of the enemy, after every other man belonging to it had been either killed or disabled by wounds.[1](Despatch of Major Turner, Bengal Horse Artillery, dated Boolundshur, 2nd October, 1857.)
Fitzgerald died in India in 1884. Fitzgerald's VC is currently held, as is his Indian Mutiny medal, by Bristol Museum.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22131. p. 2051. 27 April 1858. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword XVI (64): 185–287.
- Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- "Richard Fitzgerald (1831 - 1884)", Find A Grave