Robert Grant (VC)

He braved fierce fire to bring a badly wounded soldier home.

Robert Grant was born in the 1830s and served in the 5th Regiment of Foot, later associated with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. During the uprising in India he took part in operations around Lucknow.

On 24 September 1857, at the Alambagh, Private E. Deveney had suffered the loss of a leg and remained under enemy fire. Grant went forward through heavy fire to save him. With Lieutenant Brown and other comrades helping, he brought the wounded man safely into camp. His conduct earned the Victoria Cross, announced in June 1860. Lady Hersey presented it at Fort William, Calcutta, that December.

Grant returned to Britain and, after leaving the Army, became a Metropolitan Police constable in the Kentish Town district of London. Illness ended his civilian service, and he died in 1867 at about thirty. He was buried without a named headstone in Highgate Cemetery. Research identified his grave, and in 2008 a permanent memorial restored public recognition of the soldier and policeman.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous devotion at Alumbagh, on the 24th September, 1857, in proceeding under a heavy and galling fire to save the life of Private E. Deveney, whose leg had been shot away, and eventually carrying him safe into camp, with the assistance of the late Lieutenant Brown, and some comrades.

VICTORIA CROSS. Erratum in the London Gazette of Tuesday, June 19, 1860. In the notification of Her Majesty’s intention to confer the Victoria Cross on three soldiers of Her Majesty’s Army, For, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, Serjeant Robert Ewart, Read, 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, Serjeant Robert Grant.

The London Gazette of 19 June 1860, Numb. 22396, p. 2316 and The London Gazette of 12 October 1860, Numb. 22434, p. 3679