Patrick Mahoney

He captured the enemy regiment’s colour in a mounted charge.

Patrick Mahoney was born at Waterford, Ireland, in 1827. He enlisted in the East India Company's forces in 1846 and served with the 1st Madras Fusiliers. He became a corporal in 1855 and a sergeant the following year. His experience with horses helped him obtain an attachment to volunteer cavalry during the Indian uprising of 1857.

On 21 September 1857, during the advance toward Lucknow, the force encountered troops of the mutinous 1st Bengal Native Infantry at Mungulwar. Mahoney took a leading part in the fighting and captured the regiment's colour. The act was recorded in field orders and subsequently formed the basis of his Victoria Cross recommendation.

Mahoney continued serving with the force around Lucknow. On 30 October 1857 he was killed at Lucknow, ending his service before his gallantry award was announced. He therefore never attended an investiture or wore the Victoria Cross himself.

The award appeared in the London Gazette on 18 June 1858. His death separated the recognition from the man whose action had earned it, and the surviving record of his earlier personal life remains limited. His Victoria Cross later entered the India Office collection associated with the British Library and has been lent for exhibitions concerning Irish soldiers and the Indian uprising.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For distinguished gallantry (whilst doing duty with the Volunteer Cavalry) in aiding in the capture of the Regimental Colour of the 1st Regiment Native Infantry, at Mungulwar, on the 21st of September, 1857.

(Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17 October 1857.)