James McGuire (VC)
James McGuire | |
|---|---|
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| Allegiance | British Army |
| Awards | Victoria Cross (forfeited and re-listed) |
James McGuire VC (1827 - 22 December 1862) was born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and 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.
Details
He was about 30 years old, and a sergeant in the 1st Bengal Fusiliers (later The Royal Munster Fusiliers), Indian Army during the Indian rebellion of 1857 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 14 September 1857 at Delhi, India, when the troops were waiting at the Kabul Gate, reserve ammunition was being carried up on to the ramparts to be put into a small magazine, but before it could be safely stowed away, three boxes exploded and two were set on fire by enemy shot. Sergeant McGuire and a drummer (Miles Ryan) who were part of the ammunition guard, seeing the danger of the fire spreading, seized the two boxes which were alight and threw them over the ramparts into the canal, thus saving many lives.
Further information
One of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. McGuire's VC was forfeited after he was convicted of stealing a cow. He died in Derry, Ireland, 22 December 1862.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).
References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland)