John McGovern (VC)

John McGovern
Born	(1825-05-16)16 May 1825 Tullyhaw, County Cavan
Died	22 November 1888(1888-11-22) (aged 63) Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Buried	Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hamilton
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	Bengal Army
Years of service	1845–1862
Rank	Corporal
Unit	1st Bengal European Fusiliers
Battles / wars	Second Anglo-Burmese War Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

John McGovern VC (16 May 1825 – 22 November 1888) (Also known as McGOWAN) was born in the parish of Templeport in Tullyhaw, County Cavan, Ireland, was an Irish 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.

Details

He was 32 years old, and a private in the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers (later The Royal Munster Fusiliers), Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 23 June 1857 at Delhi, India for which he was awarded the VC:

For gallant conduct during the operations before Delhi, but more especially on the 23rd of June, 1857, when he carried into camp a wounded comrade under a very heavy fire from the enemy's battery, at the risk of his own life.

Further information

McGovern emigrated to Canada and died in Hamilton, Ontario, in November 1888.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum (Chelsea, England).

References

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Clarke, Brian D. H. (1986). "A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men". The Irish Sword. XVI (64): 185–287.
• Ireland's VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)