Charles Irwin 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 approx. 33 years old, and a Private in the 53rd Regiment (later The King's Shropshire Light Infantry) , British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Private Irwin showed conspicuous bravery at the assault on the Secundra Bagh when, although severely wounded through the right shoulder, he was one of the first to enter the building under heavy fire.

Further information

Elected by the regiment.

Born: Manorhamiliton, County Leitrim, Ireland. Service Record: 3168 53rd Shropshire Regiment, (Later) 580 7th Regiment (R.I.F.), in 87th Foot between Jan 1860 - 30 June 1860. Died: 29 March 1873 at Newton Butler, County Fermanagh, Ireland. Gazetted: 24 December 1858 Quote from the Canon Lumis files: "Judging from numerous entries in the muster roles as to imprisonment, he appears to have been a bad hat."

Information provided by Richard Arman (Submitted by John Corcoran, 15 July 1999)

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the The King's Shropshire Light Infantry Museum (Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England).

Reference

• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• John Corcoran

See also

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.