Allegiance United Kingdom Place of burial Hamilton, Canada Years of service 1845 - 1862 Service/branch Bengal Army | Name John McGovern Rank Corporal Role Armed force officer Awards Victoria Cross | |
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Born 16 May 1825
Tullyhaw, County Cavan ( 1825-05-16 ) Buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hamilton Unit 1st Bengal European Fusiliers Battles/wars Second Anglo-Burmese War
Indian Mutiny Died November 22, 1888, Hamilton, Canada Battles and wars Second Anglo-Burmese War, Indian Rebellion of 1857 | ||
John McGovern VC (16 May 1825 – 22 November 1888) (Also known as McGOWAN) was born in the parish of Templeport in Tullyhaw, County Cavan, 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.
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Details
He was 32 years old, and a private in the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers (later The Royal Munster Fusiliers), Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 23 June 1857 at Delhi, India for which he was awarded the VC:
For gallant conduct during the operations before Delhi, but more especially on the 23rd of June, 1857, when he carried into camp a wounded comrade under a very heavy fire from the enemy's battery, at the risk of his own life.
Further information
McGovern emigrated to Canada and died in Hamilton, Ontario, in November 1888.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).