John Augustus Conolly

John Augustus Conolly

Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol
Born 30 May 1829
Celbridge, County Kildare
Died 23 December 1888 (aged 59)
Curragh, County Kildare
Buried at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Lieutenant Colonel
Unit 49th Regiment of Foot
Coldstream Guards
Battles/wars Crimean War
Awards Victoria Cross

Lieutenant Colonel John Augustus Conolly VC (30 May 1829 – 23 December 1888), born in Celbridge, County Kildare, Ireland, was an Irish 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.

Details

He was 25 years old, and a lieutenant in the 49th Regiment of Foot, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 26 October 1854 at Sebastopol, the Crimea, an attack by the Russians was repulsed and the enemy fell back pursued by men of the 49th Regiment, led by Lieutenant Conolly, whose gallant behaviour was most conspicuous in this action. He ultimately fell, dangerously wounded, while in personal encounter with several Russians, in defence of his post.[1]

Further information

He was a younger son of Edward Michael Conolly MP by his wife Catherine Jane, daughter of Chambré Brabazon Ponsonby-Barker MP.[2] Born in Ireland he was educated in England at King Edward's School, Birmingham. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died in the magistrates house Curragh Camp, Co Kildare, 23 December 1888 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery. By his wife Ida Charlotte, daughter of Edwyn Burnaby, he had several children.[2]

The medal

Conolly's Victoria Cross is displayed at The Grenadier Guards Regimental Headquarters in London.

References

  1. The London Gazette: no. 21997. p. 1579. 5 May 1857. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Person Page 32092". Thepeerage.com. Retrieved 2016-01-01.

Listed in order of publication year

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 08, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.