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MAJOR JOHN AUGUSTUS CONOLLY, VC.
John Conolly was born on 30 November 1829 in Ireland.
He was commissioned into the 49th Regiment of Foot
(later the Royal Berkshire Regiment) on 25th February
1848. He went to the Crimea with the 49th Foot, and
fought in the battles of Alma and Sevastopol. The act of
gallantry for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross
occurred on 26th October 1854 whilst repulsing a Russian
attack on Shell Hill. Here he was shot in the chest and
was severely injured. For his gallantry he was promoted
to the Coldstream Guards, and when the VC was later
instituted he was gazetted as a Coldstreamer.
He was presented his medal by Queen Victoria at the
first VC Investiture in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. He
was promoted (by purchase) to Lieutenant Colonel on 11th
August 1863, and retired on 15th March 1870.
In retirement, he became a Sub Commissioner in the
Dublin Metropolitan Police, and was later the Resident
Magistrate for the Curragh of Kildare. He died on 23rd
December 1888.
As well as the VC, he was also awarded the Crimea Medal
with two clasps, Order of Mejidie 5th Class, Turkish
Crimea Medal, Sardinian Medal for Valour.
EXTRACT FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE
05 May 1857
Victoria Cross
Brevet Major John Augustus CONOLLY, Coldstream Guards
(late 49th Regt of Foot)
In the attack by the Russians against the position held
by the Second Division, 26th October, 1854, Major
Conolly, then a Lieutenant in the 49th Regiment, while
in command of a company of that Regiment, on outlying
picket, made himself most conspicuous by the gallantry
of his behaviour. He came particularly under the
observation of the late Field Marshal Lord Raglan, while
in personal encounter with several Russians, in defence
of his post. He ultimately fell dangerously wounded.
Lieutenant Conolly was highly praised in General Orders,
and promoted to the Coldstream Guards, as a reward for
his exemplary behaviour on this occasion.
His medal(s) is on display at Regimental Headquarters
RELATED IMAGES/INFORMATION
More information on Connoly can be found below:
Wikipedia External Link
Spock Information Site
MEDAL ENTITLEMENT OF:
Lieutenant Colonel John CONOLLY (Coldstream Guards)
Victoria Cross
Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 )
2 clasps:
"Alma" - "Sebastopol"
Order of the Medjidieh ( Turkey )
Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )
Medal of Military Valour ( Sardinia )
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