'Sergeant Hartigan (9th Lancers) attacking unarmed four Natives who had entered the Camp disguised as Musicians and killed Sergeant Crews', 1857

Oleolithograph after Harry Payne, published, 1890 (c).

Henry Hartigan (1826-1886) was born at Drumlea, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. On 8 June 1857 he was a Pensioned Sergeant in the 9th Lancers, when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859):

'On 8 June 1857 at the Battle of Badle-ke-Serai, near Delhi, India, Pensioned Sergeant Hartigan went to the assistance of another sergeant who was wounded, dismounted and surrounded by the enemy, and at the risk of his own life, carried the casualty to safety. On 10 October at Agra, Sergeant Hartigan went to the assistance of another sergeant who was being attacked by four rebels. He seized a tulwar from one of them, hitting him in the mouth, then, defending himself from the other three, killed one and wounded two. He was himself dangerously wounded during this action'.

Hartigan was late promoted to Lieutenant. He died in Calcutta on 29 October 1886.

One of a series entitled 'Victoria Cross Gallery, 1854-1884'.