John Sinnott (VC)

He crossed enemy fire to carry a wounded officer into safety

John Sinnott came from Ireland and worked as a tailor before enlisting in the 84th Regiment at Dublin in October 1849. He went to India in 1850 and served there throughout the decade. During the uprising of 1857, the regiment joined the operations to relieve and defend Lucknow.

On 6 October 1857, Lieutenant Ghibaut was mortally wounded while obtaining water to put out a fire in the breastwork. He lay exposed to enemy fire. Sinnott, with other soldiers, went out to help bring the officer into shelter. Sinnott was wounded in both the arm and thigh during the rescue. His comrades elected him as the most deserving of the Victoria Cross, which was announced in December 1858.

Promoted to corporal after the action, he later became a sergeant. Queen Victoria presented his medal at Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860. He subsequently served in Britain, Malta and Jamaica before leaving the Army in March 1870 after more than twenty years. His military training was followed by civilian work as a military tailor.

Sinnott was married and had a son and two daughters. In later life he lived in London, where he died in July 1896. He was buried in Battersea New Cemetery at Morden. His surviving medals were preserved with the York and Lancaster Regiment's collections.

Official Victoria Cross citation: For conspicuous gallantry at Lucknow, on the 6th of October, 1857, in going out with Serjeants Glinn and Mullins and Private Mullins, to rescue Lieutenant Gibaut, who, in carrying out water to extinguish a fire in the breastwork, had been mortally wounded, and lay outside. They brought in the body under a heavy fire. Lance-Corporal Sinnott was twice wounded. His comrades unanimously elected him for the Victoria Cross, as the most worthy. He had previously repeatedly accompanied Lieutenant Gibaut when he carried out water to extinguish the fire. Despatch from Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, Bart., G.C.B., dated 2nd December 1857.