William Connolly VC
William Connolly VC (May 1817 – 31 December 1891)
He was about 40 years old, and a gunner in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 7 July 1857 at Jhelum, India, (now Pakistan) for which he was awarded the VC:
During an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious.
He lived his last years in Liverpool, sometimes reduced to beggary, even selling his VC. He was buried in a pauper’s grave in Kirkdale Cemetery. Section 17 grave 220, sadly there is no visable markings.
Dealers Spink bought this medal for £10 at auction on 9 February 1886. Over the years they have bought and sold over 300 of these medals. In April 2004 they sold a Victoria cross for £230,000
my web site
William Connolly VC
William Connolly VC (May 1817 – 31 December 1891)
He was about 40 years old, and a gunner in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 7 July 1857 at Jhelum, India, (now Pakistan) for which he was awarded the VC:
During an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious.
He lived his last years in Liverpool, sometimes reduced to beggary, even selling his VC. He was buried in a pauper’s grave in Kirkdale Cemetery. Section 17 grave 220, sadly there is no visable markings.
Dealers Spink bought this medal for £10 at auction on 9 February 1886. Over the years they have bought and sold over 300 of these medals. In April 2004 they sold a Victoria cross for £230,000
my web site