Joseph Charles Brennan VC (August 1818 – 24 September 1872) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and Commonwealth forces. He was about 39 years old, and a Bombardier in the

Royal Regiment of Artillery The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises t ...

, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 3 April 1858 at

Jhansi Jhansi (; Hindi: झांसी, Urdu: ) is a historic city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies in the region of Bundelkhand on the banks of the Pahuj River, in the extreme south of Uttar Pradesh. Jhansi is the administrative head ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

for which he was awarded the VC:

Further information

Brennan was born in

Probus, Cornwall Probus ('' Cornish: Lannbrobus'') is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It has the tallest church tower in Cornwall. The tower is high, and richly decorated with carvings. The place name originates from the ch ...

. Also served in the

Bhutan War The Duar War (or Anglo-Bhutan War) was a war fought between British India and Bhutan in 1864–1865. It has been the only military conflict between the two states since 1774. Background Across the nineteenth century, British India commissioned ...

. He later achieved the rank of Sergeant.

References

Location of grave and VC medal
''(Kent)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brennan, Joseph Charles 1818 births 1872 deaths People from Probus, Cornwall Royal Artillery soldiers British recipients of the Victoria Cross Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross British military personnel of the Bhutan War Deaths from pneumonia in England British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Cornwall