Valentine McMaster

He carried wounded comrades to safety under heavy rifle fire

Valentine Mc Master was born at Trichinopoly in 1834 and studied medicine at Edinburgh. He entered the Army as an assistant surgeon in 1855 and served with the 78th Highlanders in Persia and India.

During the entry into Lucknow on 25 September 1857 and the fighting around the Residency, Mc Master repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire while bringing in and treating wounded soldiers. Chosen by his regiment, he received the Victoria Cross for his conduct. He continued treating casualties during the siege and was himself wounded.

His later appointments included the 6th Dragoons and 18th Hussars. Promoted surgeon, he returned to the 78th Highlanders and served at Halifax from 1869. He married there in 1870 and had a son. The regiment moved to Belfast in 1871. Mc Master died of heart disease on 22 January 1872 and was buried in Belfast City Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For the intrepidity with which he exposed himself to the fire of the enemy in bringing in and attending to the wounded on the 25th of September, at Lucknow.