William Connolly
Gunner, Bengal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 243 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Gunner all Gunners →
- Unit
- Bengal Horse Artillery all Bengal Horse Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 July 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 3rd September 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- in May 1817 at Liverpool, Lancashire
- Died
- 31st December 1891 at West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 7th July 1857 at Jhelum, India, during an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as a second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CONNOLLY, William. (reg No. 243).
Gunner Bengal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on 3rd September 1858.
Born on in May 1817 at Liverpool, Lancashire.
Died on 31st December 1891 at West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 7th July 1857 at Jhelum, India, during an engagement with the enemy, Gunner Connolly, acting as a second sponge-man, was felled by a musket ball through his thigh and although suffering severely from pain and loss of blood, he insisted on mounting his horse in the gun team and riding to the next position which the guns had taken up on retirement. He was again hit by a musket ball later the same morning but staggered to his feet and went on wielding his sponge with energy and courage, and encouraging another wounded man, until he was wounded yet again and fell unconscious.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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