Thomas Esmonde (VC)

Thomas Esmonde

Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born (1829-05-25)25 May 1829
Pembrokestown, County Waterford
Died 14 January 1873(1873-01-14) (aged 43)
Bruges, Belgium
Buried at Bruges Cemetery
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch  British Army
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 18th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars
Awards Victoria Cross

Thomas Esmonde VC (25 May 1829 – 14 January 1873) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Pembrokestown, County Waterford, the son of Sir Thomas Esmonde, 9th Baronet of the Esmonde baronets. He was a brother of the 10th Baronet.

Details

Esmonde was 26 years old, and a captain in the 18th Regiment of Foot (later The Royal Irish Regiment), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula, after being engaged in the attack on the Redan, Captain Esmonde repeatedly assisted, at great personal risk, in rescuing wounded men from exposed situations. Also, on 20 June while in command of a covering party he rushed to a spot where a fireball from the enemy had just lodged, and extinguished it before it could betray the position of his men, thus saving the party from a murderous fire of shell and grape which was immediately opened where the fireball had fallen.[1]

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died at Bruges, Belgium, on 14 January 1873 after his eye was infected by a branch.

See also

Thomas Esmonde was the great-uncle of Eugene Esmonde.

References

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22043. p. 3194. 25 September 1857. Retrieved 29 March 2015.

External links


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