Charles Irwin

He pressed on through heavy fire despite his shoulder wound.

Charles Irwin came from Manorhamilton in County Leitrim, Ireland, and was born about 1824. A cutler before his army service, he enlisted in the 18th Regiment at Sligo on 4 September 1842. He fought in Burma in 1852-53, including the operations at Martaban, Rangoon and Prome, and transferred to the 53rd Regiment of Foot in 1855.

During the Indian Mutiny he took part in the relief of Lucknow. On 16 November 1857, at the assault on the Secunderabagh, he was shot through the right shoulder. Despite his severe wound, he continued with the attackers and was among the first to enter the defended buildings under heavy fire. His fellow soldiers selected him for the Victoria Cross under the original warrant's provision for election by the men. The award was announced in December 1858.

Irwin's Indian service also included Cawnpore and subsequent operations in Oudh. In 1860 he transferred to the 87th Regiment, which was bound for Hong Kong. He remained a private and obtained his discharge at his own request on 2 August 1864, after almost twenty-two years in the army. He became an out-pensioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

He returned to Ireland and died at Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, on 8 April 1873. He was buried at St Mark's, Magheraveely. His three-medal group is preserved at Shrewsbury Castle, while a new headstone was dedicated in 2018.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery at the assault of the Secundra Bagh, at Lucknow, on the 16th of November, 1857. Although severely wounded through the right shoulder, he was one of the first men of the 53rd Regiment, who entered the buildings under a very severe fire. Elected by the private soldiers of the Regiment.

The London Gazette of 24 December 1858, Numb. 22212, p. 5513