Richard Harte Keatinge

He led the storming of a fortress despite two severe wounds.

Richard Harte Keatinge was born in Dublin on 17 June 1825. He entered East India Company artillery service in the 1840s and developed a career combining soldiering with political administration in central India.

During the uprising of 1857-58 he served with Sir Hugh Rose's Central India Field Force. On 17 March 1858, at Chanderi, he advanced with the assault on the fort and helped lead the storming column through a breach under heavy crossfire. Although twice severely wounded, he pressed on into the works. His leadership was credited with contributing substantially to the assault's success. The Victoria Cross was announced in February 1862.

Keatinge continued in military and civil service after his wounds, commanding irregular troops and taking part in operations against remaining insurgents. He became a Companion of the Star of India in 1866 and later served as Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces and of Assam. He eventually reached the rank of general and died at Horsham, Sussex, in May 1904.

Victoria Cross citation

For having rendered most efficient aid at the assault of Chundairee, in voluntarily leading the Column through the breach, which was protected by a heavy cross fire. He was one of the foremost to enter, and was severely wounded in the breach. The Column was saved from a serious loss that would probably have resulted, but for Major Keatinge’s knowledge of the small path leading across the ditch, which had been examined during the night by himself and a servant, who declined, when required, to lead the Column, without his master. Having cleared the breach, he led into the Fort, where he was struck down by another dangerous wound. The Commander-in-Chief in India states that the success at Chundairee was mainly owing to this Officer, whose gallantry, really brilliant, he considers was equalled by his ability and devotion. Major Keatinge was at the time a Political Officer with the 2nd Brigade of the Central India Field Force.