Andrew Moynihan

Andrew Moynihan
File:The Battle of Sebastopol.png Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born	1 January 1830 Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Died	18 May 1867 (aged 37) Malta
Buried	La Braxia Cemetery, Malta
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	90th Regiment of Foot 8th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Crimean War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross Médaille militaire (France)
Relations	Berkeley Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan (son)

Andrew Moynihan, VC (1 January 1830 – 18 May 1867) An English 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. He was born in the Saw Yard, Wakefield, Yorkshire on January 1st 1830, the son of Malachi and Ann (nee Scott) and was Baptised at the Catholic church of St Austin in Wakefield on the 14th March 1830.

Moynihan was a 25-year-old sergeant in the 90th Foot, British Army during the Crimean War when his gallant action took place on 8 September 1855 at Sebastopol. Sergeant Moynihan, who was with the storming party at the assault on the Redan in the Crimea, personally encountered and killed five Russians, and while under heavy fire also rescued a wounded officer from near the Redan.

Moynihan was promoted to sergeant major and in 1856 was commissioned into the 8th Foot. He was promoted lieutenant the following year and captain in 1863.

He died after contracting Malta Fever, caused by drinking unsterilised goat's milk. He is buried in La Braxia Cemetery and his Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cameronians Regimental Museum in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.

His son became a prominent surgeon being raised to the peerage as Berkeley Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan.

References

• Profile
• Andrew Moynihan, VC (Henry L. Kirby, 1993)
• 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)