Andrew Fitzgibbon

Andrew Fitzgibbon VC (13 May 1845 – 7 March 1883) was a British (Irish) soldier, and possibly the youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross.[1]

For the Irish researcher in computer vision, see Andrew Fitzgibbon (engineer).

Andrew Fitzgibbon
Victoria Cross Medal
Born13 May 1845
Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India
Died7 March 1883 (aged 37)
Delhi, India
Buried
Old Military Cemetery, Delhi, India
AllegianceBritish India
Service/branch British Indian Army
RankApothecary
UnitIndian Medical Establishment
Battles/warsSecond Opium War
AwardsVictoria Cross

Details

Fitzgibbon was born in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, India. He was fifteen years old, and a Hospital Apprentice in the Indian Medical Establishment, Indian Army, attached to the 67th Regiment (later The Royal Hampshire Regiment) during the Third China War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21 August 1860 at the capture of the Northern of the Taku Forts, China, Hospital Apprentice Fitzgibbon accompanied a wing of the 67th Regiment when it took up a position within 500 yards of the fort. He then proceeded, under heavy fire, to attend a dhoolie-bearer, whose wound he had been directed to bind up, and while the regiment was advancing under the enemy's fire, he ran across the open ground to attend to another wounded man. In doing so he was himself severely wounded.[2]

Further information

Acknowledged to be youngest recipient of the VC (aged 15 years, 3 months), with Thomas Flinn.[3] Jack Cornwell was 16 years old when he was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross after the Battle of Jutland.

Fitzgibbon later achieved the rank of Apothecary. He died in Delhi, India on 7 March 1883. He is believed to have been buried with his Victoria Cross.[4]

Footnotes
  1. At 15 years and 3 months, he was the same age as Thomas Flinn, but Flinn's exact date of birth is not known.
  2. "No. 22538". The London Gazette. 13 August 1861. p. 3363.
  3. Imperial War Museum. "The Victoria Cross". archive.iwm.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  4. Stewart, Iain. "Victoria Crosses Reported as Destroyed". Victoria Cross. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
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References
  • Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
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