William Dowling
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William Dowling (VC), (1825-17 February 1887) born in Thomastown, County Kilkenny, he 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. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Museum (Bodmin, Cornwall, England).
[edit] Details
Dowling was approximately 32 years old and a private in the 32nd Regiment of Foot(later the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry), British Army during the Indian rebellion of 1857 when he was awarded the VC.
On 4 July 1857 at Lucknow, India, he went out with two other men and spiked the enemy's guns and killed a subadar of the enemy by one of the guns. (A subadar is a rank equivalent to a captain's.) On 9 July he again when out, with three men, to spike one of the enemy's guns, but had to retire as the spike was too small. He was, however, exposed to the same dangers. Also on 27 September he spiked an 18-pounder gun during a sortie, under very heavy fire.
He died at Liverpool, Lancashire, 17 February 1887.
[edit] References
Listed in order of publication year
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
- The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
- Irelands VCs (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Liverpool)
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.
