Victoria Cross awarded to Private Thomas Duffy, 1st Madras Fusiliers, for his actions at Lucknow, 26 September 1857

Thomas Duffy (1805- 23 December 1868) was born in Caulry, Athlone, County Westmeath was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny (1857-1859). On 26 September 1857 at Lucknow, a 24-pounder gun which had been used against the enemy on the previous day was left in an exposed position and all efforts to reach it were unsuccessful, so heavy was the fire maintained on it by the mutineers. Private Duffy, however, who went out with two others, managed to fasten a rope to the gun in such a manner that it could be pulled away and was saved from falling into the hands of the enemy.