Stephen Garvin

Stephen Garvin
Colour Sergeant Stephen Garvin
Born	1826 Cashel, County Tipperary
Died	23 November 1874 Chesterton, Oxfordshire
Buried	Chesterton Parish Churchyard, Oxfordshire
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1844–1863
Rank	Colour Sergeant
Unit	1st Battalion 60th Rifles
Battles/wars	Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny North-West Frontier
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Conduct Medal

Stephen Garvin VC, DCM (1826 – 23 November 1874), born in Cashel, County Tipperary, 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 around 31 years old, and a colour-sergeant in the 1st Battalion, 60th Rifles, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 23 June 1857 at Delhi, India for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

For daring and gallant conduct before Delhi on the 23rd of June, 1857, in volunteering to lead a small party of men, under a heavy fire, to the "Sammy House," for the purpose of dislodging a number of the Enemy in position there, who kept up a destructive fire on the advanced battery of heavy guns, in which, after a sharp contest, he succeeded. Also recommended for gallant conduct throughout the operations before Delhi.

Further information

Garvin died in Chesterton, Oxfordshire on 23 November 1874 and is buried in Chesterton Parish Churchyard. His Victoria Cross is in private ownership.

References

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
• Ireland's 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 (Oxfordshire)