Harry Prendergast
Encyclopedia
General Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast VC
GCB (15 October 1834 – 24 July 1913) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
in the Madras Engineers, Madras Army
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
He received his VC from Queen Victoria at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle
on 4 January 1860 along with twenty-four other recipients of the decoration.
He was educated at Brighton College
, and, in later years, he was President of their old boys
association. There is a bronze memorial tablet to him in Brighton College Chapel, but his sword that used to hang above it was stolen.
His last field command was to lead the Burma Field Force in 1885-86 at the start the Third Anglo-Burmese War
. In 1908 he was appointed Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Engineers.
in Chatham, England.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
GCB (15 October 1834 – 24 July 1913) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Prendergast was 23 years old and a lieutenantLieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Madras Engineers, Madras Army
Madras Army
The Madras Army was the army of the Presidency of Madras, one of the three presidencies of the British India within the British Empire.The presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 transferred all three...
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
He received his VC from Queen Victoria at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
on 4 January 1860 along with twenty-four other recipients of the decoration.
Further information
The son of Thomas and Lucy (née Caroline), he served in the Persian War (1857), Central India Defence Force (1858), in the Abyssinian War (1867–68), in the Mediterranean (1878), before going to Burma. His recreations were listed as "boxing, fencing, sword-play, running, cricket, football, hunting and polo".He was educated at Brighton College
Brighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
, and, in later years, he was President of their old boys
Old Boys
The terms Old Boys and Old Girls are the usual expressions in use in the United Kingdom for former pupils or alumni of primary and secondary schools. While these are traditionally associated with independent schools, they are also used for some schools in the state sector...
association. There is a bronze memorial tablet to him in Brighton College Chapel, but his sword that used to hang above it was stolen.
His last field command was to lead the Burma Field Force in 1885-86 at the start the Third Anglo-Burmese War
Third Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
. In 1908 he was appointed Colonel-Commandant of the Royal Engineers.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers MuseumRoyal Engineers Museum
The Royal Engineers Museum, Library & Archive is a military engineering museum and library in Gillingham, Kent, England. It tells the story of the Corps of Royal Engineers and British military engineering in general.-History:The Library was founded in 1812...
in Chatham, England.
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)