Patrick Mchale
Private, 1st Battalion. 5th Regiment
- Register No.
- 786 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. 5th Regiment (register: 5th Regiment of Foot) all 5th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 2 October 1857, 22 December 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 19th June 1860 on this day → all of 1860 →
- Born
- in 1826 at Killala, County Mayo, Ireland
- Died
- 26th October 1866 at Shorncliff, Kent
- Memorial / grave
- at Shorncliff Militia Cemetery, Kent
Digest of citation
At Lucknow, India, on 2nd October 1857, Private McHale was the first man at the capture of one of the guns at the Cawnpore Battery. On 22nd December, he was the first to take possession of one of the guns which had sent several rounds of grape shot through his company. Private McHale was the first to meet the enemy on every occasion of attack, causing so much consternation by the boldness of his attack on each occasion that those who followed him had little to do. His continual bravery and daring made him a legend among his comrades
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McHALE, Patrick. (reg No. 786).
Private. 1st Battalion. 5th Regiment * London Gazetted on 19th June 1860.
Born in 1826 at Killala, County Mayo, Ireland.
Died on 26th October 1866 at Shorncliff, Kent.
Memorial on grave at Shorncliff Militia Cemetery, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: At Lucknow, India, on 2nd October 1857, Private McHale was the first man at the capture of one of the guns at the Cawnpore Battery. On 22nd December, he was the first to take possession of one of the guns which had sent several rounds of grape shot through his company. Private McHale was the first to meet the enemy on every occasion of attack, causing so much consternation by the boldness of his attack on each occasion that those who followed him had little to do. His continual bravery and daring made him a legend among his comrades.
* Northumberland Fusiliers.
* Northumberland Fusiliers.
Register note: Awarded for multiple acts of valour
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Shorncliff Militia Cemetery, Kent
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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