Samuel Hill Lawrence

He led a sortie then stormed a gun during the Lucknow siege.

Samuel Hill Lawrence was born at Cork on 22 January 1831 into a military family. Commissioned in the 32nd Regiment in 1847, he served in the Punjab campaign at Mooltan and Goojerat before becoming a lieutenant.

During the siege of Lucknow in 1857, Lawrence commanded the Redan Battery and took part in repeated sorties. On 7 July he led an attack on a defended house, being the first up a ladder and through its window. On 26 September he advanced ahead of his company with two men to capture a nine-pounder gun. The two actions earned a single Victoria Cross. He continued defending the Residency until its evacuation in November.

Promoted captain with the brevet of major, he received his VC from Queen Victoria on 4 January 1860. He later served in the 8th and 11th Hussars before retiring in 1864. He went to Uruguay and died near Montevideo on 17 June 1868. Initially buried in the Old British Cemetery, his remains were later moved to the British Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For distinguished bravery in a Sortie on the 7th of July, 1857, made, as reported by Major Wilson, late Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General of the Lucknow Garrison, “for the purpose of examining a house strongly held by the Enemy, in order to discover whether or not a mine was being driven from it.” Major Wilson states that he saw the attack, and was an eyewitness to the great personal gallantry of Major Lawrence on the occasion, he being the first person to mount the ladder, and enter the window of the house, in effecting which he had his pistol knocked out of his hand by one of the Enemy:- also, for distinguished gallantry in a Sortie, on the 26th of September, 1857, in charging with two of his men, in advance of his Company, and capturing a 9-pounder gun.

The London Gazette of 22 November 1859, Numb. 22328, p. 4193