Francis Fitzpatrick (VC)

Francis Fitzpatrick VC was born in 1859 at Tullycorbet, County Monaghan, Ireland. He was serving as a Private in the 94th Regiment of Foot, later associated with the Connaught Rangers, during the campaign against Sekukuni in South Africa.

On 28 November 1879, during the attack on Sekukuni’s Town, Lieutenant Dewar of the 1st Dragoon Guards was struck and badly wounded. At the time, Dewar was accompanied only by Privates Thomas Flawn and Francis Fitzpatrick of the 94th Regiment, along with six men of the Native Contingent. Dewar’s wounds left him unable to move without assistance, and the men of the Native Contingent initially tried to carry him down the hill.

Suddenly, around thirty enemy warriors appeared in pursuit. The Native Contingent men abandoned Dewar and fled, leaving the wounded officer helpless and exposed. Fitzpatrick and Flawn refused to leave him. The two privates took turns carrying Dewar to safety, while the other covered the retreat and fired on the pursuing enemy. Their courage and steadiness under pressure saved Dewar’s life.

For this action, Francis Fitzpatrick and Thomas Flawn were both awarded the Victoria Cross. Fitzpatrick was presented with his VC by Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Anstruther at Lydenburg in the Transvaal on 17 September 1880.

Fitzpatrick continued serving during the First Boer War. In 1881, at Bronkhorstspruit, he was wounded and taken prisoner, and his original Victoria Cross and South Africa Medal were lost. Official replacements were issued in June 1881. The original medals were later recovered, creating the unusual situation of Fitzpatrick having both original and replacement medals associated with his service.

After leaving the Army, Fitzpatrick’s life became obscure and difficult. He later re-enlisted during the South African War and served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, earning the Queen’s South Africa Medal with the clasps “Cape Colony” and “South Africa 1902.” In civilian life he worked for a time as a groom and later as a General Post Office doorkeeper in Glasgow.

Francis Fitzpatrick died in Glasgow, Scotland, on 10 July 1933, in poverty. He was buried in St Kentigern’s Cemetery, Glasgow, originally in an unmarked grave. In July 2014, through the efforts of Glasgow City Council and the Victoria Cross Trust, a new headstone was placed on his grave. His original Victoria Cross and South Africa Medal are now held by the National Army Museum, Chelsea.