Civilian VC won today 149 years ago at siege of Lucknow

The siege of Lucknow in India began in June 1857. Three months into the siege, a relieving force had itself been stranded inside the improvised fortifications. Shortage of food, disease and constant artillery fire meant that the occupants of Lucknow were all but finished.

Word arrived that another relieving force was on its way. The defenders decided that someone should go out through enemy lines to warn the approaching British army and guide it in.

Thomas Henry Kavanagh an Irishman in the Bengal Civil Service., volunteered on November 9th ,149 years ago . Disguised as a native irregular soldier, ‘and with my talwar [Indian sword] resting on my shoulder’, Kavanagh even engaged the enemy in conversation before eventually reaching safety. If he had been caught, as a spy he would have been killed.

Kavanagh made his way past checkpoints, swam the river Gomti and made contact with the British army.

The relief force did not attempt to enter the city, however they pacified the area long enough for the Residency inhabitants to begin withdrawing, women and children first, on November 18th. When the rearguard left, the city was given up to the mutineers, but the British flag which had flown day and night during the siege was removed to safety.

The National Army Museum retains a shield that formed part of the disguise worn by Kavanagh when he passed through the Mutineers’ lines at Lucknow to the camp of the relieving forces.

Kavanagh received the Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery. The actual medal is said to be held at the Militaria Collection Of of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.He is one of only 5 civilian recipients of Britain’s highest gallantry award ( No woman has ever received it) . He also received the Indian Mutiny Medal.

Kavanagh's Boys Own Paper description of his remarkable enterprise is available here.

He died in Gibraltar on 11 November 1882 where he is buried. (see pic of his grave)

The grave is located in the North Front Cemetery of Gibraltar and its GOG (Government of Gibraltar) ID number is 4567.

HERE LIETH
THOMAS HENRY KAVANAGH V.C.
WHO DIED AT GIBRALTAR 13TH NOVEMBER
1882
AGED 60 YEARS

HE WAS ONE OF THE BESIEGED IN THE
LUCKNOW RESIDENCY. ON THE NIGHT OF
NOVEMBER 9TH 1857, LEAVING HIS WIFE
AND CHILDREN, HE WENT ON, DISGUISED
RISKING DISCOVERY AND DEATH BY CRUEL TORTURE,
AT THE HAND OF THE MERCILESS MUTINEERS,
IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE GARRISON.
HE SUCCEEDED. THE EMPRESS QUEEN
PLACED THE VICTORIA CROSS ON HIS BREAST
AT WINDSOR.
A LONG CAREER AS A DISTRICT OFFICER
ATTESTED THAT HIS DEVOTION TO DUTY
AS A CIVILIAN AND HIS GENTLE FORBEARANCE
TOWARDS THE NATIVES EQUALLED THE HEROISM
OF THE SOLDIER.