David MacKay (VC)

He forced a breach at Lucknow and led the fighting within it

David MacKay was born in Caithness, Scotland, in 1831. He enlisted in the 93rd Highlanders in December 1850 and served in the Crimea, including Alma, Balaklava and the siege of Sevastopol. His regiment sailed east in 1857 and was diverted to India after the rebellion began.

At the Secunderabagh, Lucknow, on 16 November 1857, MacKay took part in the assault through the breach in the defended enclosure. His exceptional conduct in the close fighting earned the Victoria Cross through the regimental selection procedure used for that action. He was subsequently wounded.

MacKay returned to Britain and served as a recruiting sergeant before medical discharge in 1861. In civilian life he worked as a storekeeper, paper cutter and labourer, and also served with local volunteers. His later years were spent in Lanarkshire, where he died in 1880. Financial difficulty led him to part with his Victoria Cross during his lifetime; its subsequent private history should be distinguished from his documented military service.