THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO CAPTAIN GEORGE FORREST, BENGAL VETERAN ESTABLISHMENT, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY MORTON AND EDEN OF LONDON.
18 November 2020


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Captain George Forrest,
Bengal Veteran Establishment

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Delhi"


The Victoria Cross awarded to Captain George Forrest, Bengal Veteran Establishment, has been sold at auction by Morton and Eden of London. The George Forrest Indian Mutiny Medal does not accompany the VC.

The estimated sale price was between £80,000 and £100,000. The sale hammer price realised £145,000. The Lord Ashcroft VC Collection purchased not only the George Forrest Victoria Cross but also the John Smith Victoria Cross at the same auction.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 18 June 1858 ], Delhi, Indian Mutiny, 11 May 1857, Lieutenant George Forrest, Bengal Veteran Establishment.

CITATION:
For gallant conduct in the defence of the Delhi Magazine, on the 11th May 1857.

SUMMARY:
Lieutenant Forrest brought news to Lieutenant William Raynor, Conductor John Buckley and six others inside the Delhi Magazine that mutineers were approaching. The men resolved to defend the Magazine until overpowered, at which point they would blow the building into the air.

The gates were barricaded and two six-pound guns loaded with grape shot were trained on the entrances.

The rebels began scaling the building with ladders, at which point the entire native born garrison went over to the mutineers. The nine men fired their guns ceaselessly, until, with ammunition running out and rebels forcing their way in on all sides, Willoughby gave the order for the building to be fired.

Four of the men, including Forrest, survived the explosion and fled to safety.

George Forrest was invested with his Victoria Cross by Major Troup Landour, India, on the 2nd NOvember 1858.


George Forrest died on the 3rd November 1859 and was buried in the Dehra Dun Cemetery. A mausoleum marks the grave.


The following were awarded the Victoria Cross:

  • Lieutenant Willima Raynor - ( Bengal Veteran Establishment )
  • Lieutenant George Forrest - ( Bengal Veteran Establishment )
  • Conductor John Buckley - ( Bengal Ordnance Department )

The Following were killed by the explosion:

  • Lieutenant George Willoughby - ( killed two days later )
  • Conductor George Shaw
  • Conductor John Scully
  • Sub-Conductor William Crow
  • Sergeant Bryan Edwards
  • Sergeant Peter Stewart

Acquisitions

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 18 November 2020