John Dunlay

He entered a breach to support his captain against the enemy

John Dunlay, whose surname also appears as Dunley or Dunlea, was born near Douglas in County Cork in the early 1830s. He worked as a labourer before attesting for the 51st Regiment at Cork in December 1852. He volunteered for the 93rd Highlanders in February 1854 and served in the Crimea before the regiment went to India.

On 16 November 1857, the 93rd took part in the assault on the Secunderabagh during the relief of Lucknow. The walled enclosure was strongly defended, and troops had to force their way through a breach into close fighting. Dunlay was among the first surviving men of his regiment through the breach. He supported Captain Burroughs against superior numbers and suffered a severe wound to his knee.

His comrades selected him for the Victoria Cross under the collective-election provision of the warrant. His action belonged to the same fierce fighting in which other members of the Highlanders received the decoration. The wound left a musket ball lodged in his knee and ended his effective military service.

He was medically discharged at Chatham in August 1858. Returning to Cork, he worked as a hackney-cab driver, relying on civilian employment after the injury that had ended his army career.

Dunlay died in the South Infirmary at Cork on 17 October 1890 after an accident. He was buried in the military section of St Joseph's Cemetery at Torytop Road. His Victoria Cross and the ball removed from his knee were preserved together in the collection at the Sheesh Mahal in Patiala, retaining a direct connection between his decoration and the injury he suffered at Lucknow.

Victoria Cross citation excerpt

“Elected by the private soldiers of the Regiment.”