Patrick Carlin

Patrick Carlin
File:Patrick Carlin VC IWM Q 80488.jpg
Born	1832 Belfast, Ireland
Died	11 May 1895 (aged 62-63) Belfast
Buried	Friar's Bush graveyard, Stranmillis
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Private
Unit	13th Regiment of Foot
Battles/wars	Indian Mutiny
Awards	Victoria Cross

Patrick Carlin VC (1832 – 11 May 1895), of Belfast, County Antrim, 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.

VC action

When Carlin was approximately 26 years old, he served as a private in the 1st Battalion, 13th Regiment of the British Army, later known as The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's), during the Indian Mutiny when on 6 April 1858 at Azumgurh, India, he did the deed for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

For the Act of Bravery recorded in a General Order, issued by the Commander-in-Chief in India, of which the following is a copy:

Head- Quarters, Allahabad, June 29, 1858.
" GENERAL ORDER.
" The Commander-in-Chief in India directs that the undermentioned Soldier, of the 13th Foot, be presented, in the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty, with a Medal of the Victoria Cross, for valour and daring in the field, viz.:
Private Patrick Carlin, No. 3611, of the 13th Foot, for rescuing, on the 6th of April, 1858, a wounded Naick of the 4th Madras Rifles, in the field of battle, after killing, with the Naick's sword, a mutineer sepoy, who fired at him whilst bearing off his wounded comrade on his shoulders.

(Signed) C. CAMPBELL, General, Commander-in-Chief, East Indies.

Further information

He died in the Belfast Union Infirmary on 11 May 1895, and was buried in the Friar's Bush graveyard on Stranmillis Road, Belfast; he has no memorial. The Board of Guardians Minute Book records that he died of exhaustion at the age of 60 on 11 May 1895. Although he is believed to be buried in Friar's Bush graveyard, there is a view that his grave might be in one of the two sections of the old Donegall Road (Blackstaff Road) graveyard; now taken over by new housing and the Arellian Nursery ground.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Somerset Light Infantry Museum, Taunton, Somerset.

References

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Belfast, Northern Ireland)