James Mcguire
Sergeant, 1st Bengal Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 785 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 1st Bengal Fusiliers (register: 1st Bengal European Fusiliers) all 1st Bengal European Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 24th December, 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in 1827 at Enniskillen, Ireland
- Died
- 22nd December 1862 at Londonderry, Ireland
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
When the troops were waiting at the Kabul Gate at Delhi, in India, on 14th September 1857, Reserve ammunition was being carried on to the ramparts to be placed in a small magazine. Before it could be safely stored, three boxes exploded and two boxes were set on fire by enemy shot. Sergeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan (reg No. 1095) of the ammunition guard, being aware of the danger of the fire spreading, seized the two burning boxes, then threw them over the ramparts into the canal. This courageous action saved many lives
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McGUIRE, James. (reg No. 785).
Sergeant. 1st Bengal Fusiliers *.
London Gazetted on 24th December, 1858.
Born in 1827 at Enniskillen, Ireland.
Died on 22nd December 1862 at Londonderry, Ireland.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: When the troops were waiting at the Kabul Gate at Delhi, in India, on 14th September 1857, Reserve ammunition was being carried on to the ramparts to be placed in a small magazine. Before it could be safely stored, three boxes exploded and two boxes were set on fire by enemy shot. Sergeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan (reg No. 1095) of the ammunition guard, being aware of the danger of the fire spreading, seized the two burning boxes, then threw them over the ramparts into the canal. This courageous action saved many lives.
* Royal Munster Fusiliers.
* Royal Munster Fusiliers.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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