Indian troops were not originally eligible for the VC, because since 1837 they had been eligible for the Indian Order of Merit—the oldest British gallantry award for general issue. When the VC was created, Indian troops were still controlled by the Honourable East India Company, and did not come under Crown control until 1860. European officers and men serving with the Honourable East India Company were not eligible for the Indian Order of Merit; the VC was extended to cover them in October 1857. The first citations of the VC varied in the details of each action; some specify one date, some date ranges, some the name of the battle and others have both sets of information. There were only two posthumous recipients of the VC for actions during the rebellion; the original Royal Warrant did not contain a specific clause regarding posthumous awards, although official policy was to not award the VC posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the London Gazette regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men; Everard Phillipps and Edward Spence were decorated thus.[5] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to explicitly allow posthumous awards until 1920.[6][7] The Indian Mutiny holds the record for the most VCs won in a single day; 24 at the Second Relief of Lucknow on 16 November 1857.[8]
Name |
Unit |
Date of action |
Place of action |
Henry Addison |
04343rd Regiment of Foot |
1859-01-022 January 1859 |
Kurereha, India |
Frederick Aikman |
0044th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-03-011 March 1858 |
Amethi, India |
Robert Aitken |
01313th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-06-3030 June 1857 to
22 November 1857[9] |
Lucknow, India |
Charles Anderson |
0022nd Dragoon Guards |
1858-10-088 October 1858 |
Sundeela Oudh, India |
Augustus Anson |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2828 September 1857,
16 November 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India
Lucknow, India |
Charles Baker |
Bengal Police Battalion |
1858-09-2727 September 1858 |
Suhejnee, Bengal |
Valentine Bambrick |
06060th Rifles |
1858-05-066 May 1858 |
Bareilly, India |
William Bankes |
0077th Queen's Own Hussars |
1858-03-1919 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
James Blair |
0022nd Bombay Light Cavalry |
1857-08-1212 August 1857,
23 October 1857 |
Neemuch, India
Jeerum, India |
Robert Blair |
0022nd Dragoon Guards |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
Andrew Bogle |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-2929 July 1857 |
Oonao, India |
Abraham Boulger |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-1212 July 1857 to
25 September 1857[10] |
Lucknow, India |
William Bradshaw |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Joseph Brennan |
Royal Regiment of Artillery |
1858-04-033 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
Francis Brown |
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Narnoul, India |
Sam Browne |
04646th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-08-3131 August 1858 |
Seerporah, India |
John Buckley |
Commissariat Department |
1857-05-1111 May 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Thomas Butler |
0011st European Bengal Fusiliers |
1858-03-099 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
James Byrne |
08686th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-033 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
Thomas Cadell |
0022nd European Bengal Fusiliers |
1857-06-1212 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
William Cafe |
05656th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-04-1515 April 1858 |
Fort Ruhya, India |
Aylmer Cameron |
07272nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-03-3030 March 1858 |
Kotah, India |
Patrick Carlin |
01313th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-066 April 1858 |
Azumgurh, India |
James Champion |
0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars |
1858-09-088 September 1858 |
Beejapore, India |
George Chicken |
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade |
1858-09-2727 September 1858 |
Peroo, Bengal |
Herbert Clogstoun |
01919th Madras Native Infantry |
1859-01-1515 January 1859 |
Chichumbah, India |
Hugh Cochrane |
08686th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-011 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
William Connolly |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-07-077 July 1857 |
Jhelum, India |
Walter Cook |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1859-01-1515 January 1859 |
Maylah Ghat, India |
Cornelius Coughlan |
07575th Regiment of Foot |
1857-06-088 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Joseph Crowe |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-08-1212 August 1857 |
Boursekee Chowkee, India |
William Cubitt |
01313th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-06-3030 June 1857 |
Chinhut, India |
John Daunt |
01111th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-10-022 October 1857 |
Chota Behar, India |
James Davis |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-1515 April 1858 |
Fort Ruhya, India |
Denis Dempsey |
01010th Regiment of Foot |
1857-08-1212 August 1857,
14 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Bernard Diamond |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
John Divane |
06060th Rifles |
1857-09-1010 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Patrick Donohoe |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
William Dowling |
03232nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-044 July 1857,
27 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Thomas Duffy |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857-09-066 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
John Dunlay |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Denis Dynon |
05353rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-10-022 October 1857 |
Chota Behar, India |
Francis Farquharson |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-03-099 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Alfred Ffrench |
05353rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-10-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Richard Fitzgerald |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
Thomas Flinn |
06464th Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-2828 November 1857 |
Cawnpore, India |
George Forrest |
Bengal Veterans Establishment |
1857-05-1111 May 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Charles Fraser |
0077th Queen's Own Hussars |
1858-12-3131 December 1858 |
River Raptee, India |
John Freeman |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-10-1010 October 1857 |
Agra, India |
William Gardner |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-05-055 May 1858 |
Bareilly, India |
Stephen Garvin |
06060th Rifles |
1857-06-2323 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Peter Gill |
Loodiana Regiment |
1857-06-044 June 1857 |
Benares, India |
William Goat |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1858-03-066 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Charles Goodfellow |
Bombay Engineers |
1859-10-066 October 1859 |
Kathiawar, India |
Henry Gore-Browne |
03232nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-08-2121 August 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Charles Gough |
0055th Bengal European Cavalry |
1857-08-1515 August 1857,
18 August 1857,
27 January 1858,
3 February 1858[11] |
Khurkowdah, India
Not known
Shumshabad, India
Meangunge, India |
Hugh Gough |
0011st Bengal European Light Cavalry |
1857-11-1212 November 1857,
25 February 1858 |
Alumbagh, India
Jellalabad, India |
Patrick Graham |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1717 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Peter Grant |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Robert Grant |
0055th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2424 September 1857 |
Alumbagh, India |
Patrick Green |
07575th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1111 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
John Guise |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Thomas Hackett |
02323rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1818 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Hall |
HMS ShannonHMS Shannon |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Thomas Hancock |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-06-1919 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Hastings Harington |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
John Harrison |
Naval BrigadeNaval Brigade |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Henry Hartigan |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-06-088 June 1857
10 October 1857[12] |
Delhi, India
Agra, India |
Henry Havelock-Allan |
01010th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-1616 July 1857 |
Cawnpore, India |
David Hawkes |
RifleRifle Brigade |
1858-03-1111 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Robert Hawthorne |
05252nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Alfred Heathcote |
06060th Rifles |
1857-06-00June to
September 1857[13] |
Delhi, India |
Clement Heneage |
0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars |
1858-06-1717 June 1858 |
Gwalior, India |
Samuel Hill |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
James Hills |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-07-099 July 1857 |
Delhi, India |
George Hollis |
0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars |
1858-06-1717 June 1858 |
Gwalior, India |
James Hollowell |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Joel Holmes |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Anthony Home |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Duncan Home |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
James Innes |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1858-02-2323 February 1858 |
Sultanpore, India |
Charles Irwin |
05353rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Hanson Jarrett |
02626th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-10-1414 October 1858 |
Baroun, India |
Joseph Jee |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Edward Jennings |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Henry Jerome |
08686th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-033 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
Alfred Jones |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-06-088 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Thomas Kavanagh |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857-11-099 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Richard Keatinge |
Bombay ArtilleryBombay Artillery |
1858-03-1717 March 1858 |
Chundairee, India |
Robert Kells |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
James Kenny |
05353rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Kerr |
02424th Bombay Native Infantry |
1857-07-1010 July 1857 |
Kolapore, India |
John Kirk |
01010th Regiment of Foot |
1857-06-044 June 1857 |
Benares, India |
George Lambert |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-2929 June 1857,
16 August 1857,
25 September 1857[10] |
Oonao, India
Bithoor, India
Lucknow, India |
Thomas Laughnan |
Bengal Horse ArtilleryBengal Horse Artillery |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Samuel Lawrence |
03232nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-077 July 1857,
26 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
James Leith |
01414th Light Dragoons |
1858-04-011 April 1858 |
Betwa, India |
Harry Lyster |
07272nd Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-05-2323 May 1858 |
Calpee, India |
David MacKay |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Herbert MacPherson |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Patrick Mahoney |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857-09-2121 September 1857 |
Mungulwar, India |
Ross Mangles |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857-07-3030 July 1857 |
Arrah, India |
Francis Maude |
Royal Regiment of Artillery |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Arthur Mayo |
Indian Naval BrigadeIndian Naval Brigade |
1857-11-2222 November 1857 |
Dacca, India |
William McBean |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1858-03-1111 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
William McDonell |
Bengal Civil Service |
1857-07-3030 July 1857 |
Arrah, India |
John McGovern |
0011st Bengal Fusiliers |
1857-06-2323 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
James McGuire |
0011st Bengal Fusiliers |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Patrick McHale |
0055th Regiment of Foot |
1857-10-022 October 1857,
22 December 1857[12] |
Lucknow, India |
Hugh McInnes |
Bengal Artillery |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Peter McManus |
0055th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Valentine McMaster |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Stewart McPherson |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Bernard McQuirt |
09595th Regiment of Foot |
1858-01-066 January 1858 |
Rowa, India |
Duncan Millar |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1859-01-1515 January 1859 |
Maylah Ghat, India |
James Miller |
Bengal Ordnance Depot |
1857-10-2828 October 1857 |
Agra, India |
Thomas Monaghan |
0022nd Dragoon Guards |
1858-10-088 October 1858 |
Jamo, India |
George Monger |
02323rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1818 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Samuel Morley |
Military TrainMilitary Train |
1858-04-1515 April 1858 |
Azumgurh, India |
James Munro |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Michael Murphy |
Military TrainMilitary Train |
1858-04-1515 April 1858 |
Azumgurh, India |
Patrick Mylott |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-1212 July 1857 to
25 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Napier |
01313th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-066 April 1858 |
Azumgurh, India |
William Nash |
Rifle BrigadeRifle Brigade |
1858-03-1111 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Robert Newell |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1858-03-1919 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
William Olpherts |
Bengal Artillery |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Oxenham |
03232nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-06-3030 June 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
James Park |
Bengal Artillery |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 to
22 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
John Paton |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
James Pearson |
08686th Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-033 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
John Pearson |
0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars |
1858-06-1717 June 1858 |
Gwalior, India |
Everard Phillipps |
01111th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-05-3030 May 1857 to
18 September 1857[14] |
Delhi, India |
Harry Prendergast |
Madras Engineers |
1857-11-2121 November 1857 |
Mundisore, India |
Dighton Probyn |
0022nd Punjab Cavalry |
185-00-001857 to
1858[15] |
Agra, India |
John Purcell |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-06-1919 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Charles Pye |
05353rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1717 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Raynor |
Bengal Veterans Establishment |
1857-05-1111 May 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Herbert Reade |
06161st Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
William Rennie |
09090th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2121 September 1857,
25 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
George Renny |
Bengal Horse Artillery |
1857-09-1616 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
George Richardson |
03434th Regiment of Foot |
1859-04-2727 April 1859 |
Kewane Trans-Gogra, India |
Frederick Roberts |
Bengal Horse Artillery |
1858-01-022 January 1858 |
Khodagunge, India |
James Roberts |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1857-09-2828 September 1857 |
Bolandshahr, India |
Edward Robinson |
Naval Brigade |
1858-03-1313 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Patrick Roddy |
Bengal Army |
1858-09-2727 September 1858 |
Kuthirga, India |
George Rodgers |
07171st Regiment of Foot |
1858-06-1616 June 1858 |
Marar, India |
Matthew Rosamund |
03737th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-06-044 June 1857 |
Benares, India |
David Rushe |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1858-03-1919 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
John Ryan |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857-09-2626 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Miles Ryan |
101101st Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Philip Salkeld |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Nowell Salmon |
Naval Brigade |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Same Shaw |
Rifle Brigade |
1858-06-1313 June 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Robert Shebbeare |
06060th Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
John Simpson |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-1515 April 1858 |
Fort Ruhya, India |
John Sinnott |
08484th Regiment of Foot |
1857-10-066 October 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Michael Sleavon |
Corps ofCorps of Royal Engineers |
1858-04-033 April 1858 |
Jhansi, India |
Henry Smith |
05252nd Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
John Smith |
0011st Madras European Fusiliers |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
John Smith |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1857-09-1414 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
David Spence |
0099th Queen's Royal Lancers |
1858-01-1717 January 1858 |
Shunsabad, India |
Edward Spence |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-1515 April 1858[14] |
Fort Ruhya, India |
William Stewart |
09393rd Regiment of Foot |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
William Sutton |
06060th Rifles |
1857-08-022 August 1857 to
13 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Edward Thackeray |
Bengal Sappers and Miners |
1857-09-1616 September 1857 |
Delhi, India |
Jacob Thomas |
Bengal Artillery |
1857-09-2727 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Alexander Thompson |
04242nd Regiment of Foot |
1858-04-155 April 1858 |
Fort Ruhya, India |
William Thompson |
06060th Rifles |
1857-07-099 July 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Henry Tombs |
Bengal Horse Artillery |
1857-07-099 July 1857 |
Delhi, India |
James Travers |
0022nd Bengal Native Infantry |
1857-07-00July 1857[16] |
Indore, India |
Samuel Turner |
06060th Rifles |
1857-06-1919 June 1857 |
Delhi, India |
John Tytler |
06666th Bengal Native Infantry |
1858-02-1010 February 1858 |
Choorpoorah, India |
Richard Wadeson |
07575th Regiment of Foot |
1857-07-1717 July 1857 |
Delhi, India |
George Waller |
06060th Rifles |
1857-09-1414 September 1857,
18 September 1857[13] |
Delhi, India |
William Waller |
02525th Bombay Light Infantry |
1858-06-2020 June 1858 |
Gwalior, India |
Henry Ward |
07878th Regiment of Foot |
1857-09-2525 September 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Joseph Ward |
0088th King's Royal Irish Hussars |
1858-06-1717 June 1858 |
Gwalior, India |
John Watson |
0033rd Bombay European Regiment |
1857-11-1414 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |
Frederick Whirlpool |
0011st Punjab Cavalry |
1858-04-033 April 1858,
2 May 1858[17] |
Jhansi, India
Lohari, India |
Henry Wilmot |
Rifle Brigade |
1858-03-1111 March 1858 |
Lucknow, India |
Evelyn Wood |
01717th Lancers |
1858-10-1919 October 1858 |
Sinwaho, India |
Thomas Young |
Naval Brigade |
1857-11-1616 November 1857 |
Lucknow, India |