Henry MacDonald
{{short description|Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{For|those of a similar name|Henry McDonald (disambiguation)|Harry MacDonald (disambiguation)}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= Henry MacDonald
|birth_date=28 May 1823
|death_date= 15 February 1893 (aged 69)
|birth_place= Inverness, Scotland
|death_place=Glasgow, Scotland
|placeofburial=Western Necropolis, Glasgow
|image= VCHenryMacDonald.jpg
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=Captain
|branch=23px British Army
|commands=
|unit=Royal Engineers
|battles=Crimean War
|awards= Victoria Cross
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Légion d'honneur (France)
|laterwork=
}}
Henry MacDonald VC (28 May 1823 – 15 February 1893) was a Scottish 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
MacDonald was 31 years old, and a colour sergeant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 19 April 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Colour-Sergeant MacDonald acted with great gallantry when engaged in effecting a lodgement in the enemy's rifle-pits in front of the left advance of the Right Attack. Subsequently, when the Engineer officers were badly wounded Colour-Sergeant MacDonald took command and he determinedly persisted in carrying on the sap notwithstanding the repeated attacks of the enemy.{{London Gazette|issue=22149 |page=2757 |date=4 June 1858 }}
Further information
He later achieved the rank of honorary captain.
The medal
This medal is now in the care of Glasgow Museums and is in open storage at the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre, 200 Woodhead Road, Glasgow. These stores are open to the public with daily tours and the medal can be viewed on request.
References
{{reflist}}
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20061218200907/http://www.remuseum.org.uk/rem_his_vc.htm#1m Royal Engineers Museum] Sappers VCs
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20050104200733/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/glasgow.htm Location of grave and VC medal] (Glasgow)
- [http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=8 Glasgow Museums Resource Centre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192229/http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/venue/index.cfm?venueid=8 |date=27 September 2007 }}
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Category:Military personnel from Inverness
Category:British Army personnel of the Crimean War
Category:Crimean War recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:Royal Engineers soldiers
Category:Royal Engineers officers
Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal