Allegiance United Kingdom Name Duncan Home Service/branch Bengal Army Unit Bengal Engineers | Rank Lieutenant Died October 1, 1857, India Years of service 1848–1857 † Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Buried at Bolandsharh Cemetery, Aligarh Battles/wars Second Anglo-Sikh War
Indian Mutiny Battles and wars Second Anglo-Sikh War, Indian Rebellion of 1857 People also search for Philip Salkeld, James Dundas, Edward Thackeray | ||
Place of burial Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | ||
Duncan Charles Home VC (10 June 1828 – 1 October 1857) was a 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.
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Home was 29 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Engineers, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 14 September 1857 during the Siege of Delhi, India for which he, Lieutenant Philip Salkeld, Sergeant John Smith and bugler Robert Hawthorne were awarded the VC:
Lieutenants Duncan Charles Home and Philip Salkeld, Bengal Engineers, upon whom the Victoria Cross was provisionally conferred by Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., for their conspicuous bravery in the performance of the desperate duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of tho Fortress of Delhi, in broad daylight, under a heavy fire of musketry, on the morning of the 14th September, 1857, preparatory to the assault, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for confirmation in that distinction, had they survived.
He was killed in action at Malagarh, India, on 1 October 1857.
The medal
The original medal was lost in 1920 when children of the then owner played "Soldiers" in a field near the house. Despite many searches, it has not been found.