THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO LIEUTENANT PETER GILL, LUDHIANA REGIMENT OF SIKHS, INDIAN ARMY, HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY SPINK OF LONDON.
22 November 2012


Medal entitlement of Lieutenant Peter Gill,
Ludihana Regiment

  • Victoria Cross
  • Sutlej Medal ( 1845-46 )
    • Reverse: "Sabraon 1846"
  • Punjab Medal ( 1848-49 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Chilianwala" - "Goojerat"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )


The Victoria Cross awarded to Sergeant-Major ( later Lieutenant ) Peter Gill, Ludhiana Regiment of Sikhs, Indian Army, has been sold at auction by the London auctioneers Spink on the 22nd November 2012. ( The whereabouts of Peter Gill's campaign medals is not known. ) The Victoria Cross realised a hammer price of £70,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 24 August 1858 ], Benares, Indian Mutiny, 4 June 1857, Sergeant Major Peter Gill, Ludhiana Regiment of Sikhs.

This Non-Commissioned Officer also conducted himself with gallantry at Benares, on the night of the 4th of June 1857.

He volunteered, with Serjeant-Major Rosamond, of the 37th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, to bring in Captain Brown, Pension Paymaster, and his family, from a detached Bungalow to the Barracks, as above recorded, and saved the life of the Quartermaster-Sergeant of the 25th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, in the early part of the evening, by cutting off the head of the Sepoy who had just bayonetted him.

Serjeant-Major Gill states, that on the same night he faced a Guard of 27 men, with only a Serjeant’s sword; and it is also represented that he twice saved the life of Major Barrett, 27th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry, when attacked by Sepoys of his own Regiment.

Peter Gill was invested with his Victoria Cross in February 1859 in India. By whom and the location is not known.


Peter Gill died, aged 52, on the 24th October 1868 at Morar, India, and was buried in the Artillery Lines Cemetery, Gwalior. His grave is unmarked.

News

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 22 November 2012