Philip Salkeld

He carried explosive charges to the gate under hostile fire.

Philip Salkeld was born at Fontmell Magna, Dorset, in October 1830 and grew up in the family of a clergyman. He trained at the East India Company's military college at Addiscombe and entered the Bengal Engineers. His early work in India included roads, canals and other public construction projects.

By 1856 he was employed at Delhi. When the uprising broke out there in May 1857, he escaped with other Europeans. During their dangerous journey away from the city, he helped wounded companions and members of a family, giving his shoes to one of the girls. He subsequently returned with the British force assembling on the Delhi Ridge.

Throughout the siege, Salkeld worked on batteries and engineering tasks supporting the attacking force. On 14 September he became second in command of the party ordered to blow open the Kashmir Gate, preparing the way for troops to enter the city.

The engineers approached under close-range fire from the defenders. Salkeld carried explosive charges to the gate and was severely wounded while the party attempted to lay and ignite them. Other members of the group continued the work as officers and men fell. The charges exploded and opened the entrance for the assault.

Salkeld was carried away for treatment. His injuries required amputation, and he died on 10 October 1857, aged twenty-six. He was buried in Delhi. His conduct at the gate was subsequently recognized with the Victoria Cross, announced jointly with the award to Duncan Home in June 1858.

His family received the decoration after his death. A memorial fund helped support the education of his brothers after savings he had intended for that purpose were lost during the destruction of the Delhi bank. His name also became associated with memorials to the engineers who breached the Kashmir Gate.

Victoria Cross citation: Lieutenants Duncan Charles Home and Philip Salkeld, Bengal Engineers, upon whom the Victoria Cross was provisionally conferred by Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., for their conspicuous bravery in the performance of the desperate duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of the Fortress of Delhi, in broad daylight, under a heavy fire of musketry, on the morning of the 14th September, 1857, preparatory to the assault, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for confirmation in that distinction, had they survived.

The London Gazette of 18 June 1858, Numb. 22154, p. 2961