AN ‘IRISH' VICTORIA CROSS

 

A Victoria Cross awarded to Edmond (Edward) Jennings of Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, is going under the hammer at Noonan's in London on February 14.

The British military medal is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger.

Jennings was a Rough Rider (mounted soldier) in the Bengal Horse Artillery during the Relief of Lucknow, 1857.

The medal is estimated to fetch £20,000 to £30,000 (€23,368 to €35,052).

In recent years, Irish Victoria Crosses have done extraordinarily well at auction.

Jennings... melted into obscurity. He ended his days as a corporation scavenger or road sweeper in North Shields, England, and was buried in a pauper's grave.

Edmond Jennings was awarded the Victoria Cross once, but there are two medals carrying his name.

The most likely explanation is that Jennings' medal was sent out to India, along with the other Bengal Artillery Victoria Crosses, and presented to him there.

Queen Victoria wished to decorate him in person at a ceremony in Windsor in 1860 and another cross was made, but Jennings' ship was delayed and he failed to turn up.

At some stage, having fallen on hard times, Jennings sold his military medals and these found their way back to his regiment.

Since the Victoria Cross was introduced in 1856, there have been around 200 Irish recipients — 59 of these were awarded for actions during the Indian mutiny of 1857.

To read the complete article, see:
Mounted soldier's ‘Irish' Victoria Cross estimated to sell for €35,000 at auction (https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/mounted-soldiers-irish-victoria-cross-estimated-to-sell-for-35000-at-auction/a1842375958.html)

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