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| Page revised: 15 January, 2008 |
Lieutenant Harry North Dalrymple PRENDERGAST VC |
| Born: | Madras, India - 5 October 1834 | 
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| Died: | Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey - 24 July 1913 | ||
| Burial details: | Richmond Cemetery, Surrey | ||
| Corps service: | Commissioned into the Madras Engineers in 1854. He was posted to India in 1856 and after undertaking irrigation work on the Godavery he accompanied an expedition to Persia. After the Mutiny and several attempts to join other expeditions for which he was rejected he finally secured a place on the Abyssinia Expedition (1867-8) as commander of the Madras Sappers and Miners. | ||
| In 1886 he was appointed commander of the Burma Expeditionary Force, whose success ensured the annexation of Burma. He retired in 1891 as General Sir Harry Prendergast VC, GCB | |||
| VC awarded: | Won VC at Mundisore, India, on 21 November 1857. (Indian Mutiny 1857) | ||
| VC unit: | Madras Engineers (B Company, Madras Sappers and Miners). | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860. | ||
| VC citation: | For conspicuous bravery on 21 November 1857 at Mundisore,
in saving the life of Lieutenant G. Dew, 14th Light Dragoons, at the
risk of his own, by attempting to cut down a Velaitee who covered
him (Lieutenant Dew) with his piece, from only a few yards to the
rear. Lieutenant Prendergast was wounded in this affair by the discharge
of the piece, and would probably have been cut down had not the rebel
been killed by Major Orr. He also distinguished himself by his gallantry
in the actions at Ratgurh and Betwa, when he was severely wounded.
Major General Sir Hugh Rose, in forwarding his recommendations of
this officer states: 'Lieutenant Prendergast, Madras Engineers,
was specially mentioned by Brigadier (now Sir Charles) Stuart, for
the gallant act at Mundisore, when he was severely wounded; secondly,
he was "specially mentioned" by me when acting voluntarily as my aide-de-camp
in the action before Nesilging Ratgurh, on the Beena River, for gallant
conduct. His horse was killed on that occasion. Thirdly, at the action
of the Betwa, he again acted voluntarily as my aide-de-camp, and distinguished
himself by his bravery in the charge which I made with Captain Need's
troop, Her Majesty's 14th Light Dragoons, against the left of the
so-called Peishwa's Army under Tantia Topee. He was severely wounded
on that occasion.' (London Gazette: 21 October 1859) |
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| VC location: | Royal Engineers Museum | ||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
