John Harrison VC (24 January 1832 – 27 December 1865) 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 A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Early life

Harrison was born in Castleboro,

County Wexford County Wexford ( ga, Contae Loch Garman) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Southern Region. Named after the town of Wexford, it was based on the historic Gaelic territory of Hy Kinsella (''Uí Ceinns ...

; he joined the Royal Navy as a Boy Second Class in 1850.Victoria Cross (MED2081)

Details

Harrison was 25 years old, and a Leading Seaman in the Royal Navy, ( Naval Brigade) from HMS ''Shannon'' during the

Indian Mutiny The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...

when the following deed took place on 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India for which he and Nowell Salmon were awarded the VC:

Later life

Harrison later achieved the rank of Boatswain's Mate in 1858 and left the navy in 1859. He obtained a post in Customs and Excise but a wound sustained during the relief of Lucknow affected his health. He died unmarried at his home 5 Stafford Place, Westminster on 27 December 1865 and is buried at Brompton Cemetery, West London.

The medal

Harrison's Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London.

References

Listed in order of publication year *'' The Register of the Victoria Cross'' (1981, 1988 and 1997) * *'' Ireland's VCs'' (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
''(Brompton Cemetery)'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Harrison, John People from County Wexford Royal Navy sailors Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross 1832 births 1865 deaths 19th-century Irish people Burials at Brompton Cemetery Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Navy personnel of the Crimean War Royal Navy personnel of the Second Opium War