Patrick McHale

He charged the enemy guns and took them before his comrades.

Patrick McHale was born at Killala, County Mayo, in 1826 and enlisted in the 5th Regiment in 1847. He spent nine years at Mauritius before his regiment was sent to India during the 1857 uprising. He served in the relief of Arrah and the advance to Lucknow.

On 2 October 1857 he led the capture of an enemy gun during the fighting at Lucknow. On 22 December, near the city, he again rushed forward and seized a gun that had fired grapeshot through his company. His sustained courage and these two actions earned one Victoria Cross.

He received the decoration at Fort William, Calcutta, in December 1860 and returned with his regiment to Britain in 1861. Still serving at the regimental depot, he died at Shorncliffe on 26 October 1866. His comrades erected a memorial over his grave in the military cemetery.