DOUBTS HAVE BEEN RAISED OVER THE AUTHENTICITY OF THE HENRY HARTIGAN VICTORIA CROSS HELD BY THE NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME MUSEUM, STAFFORDSHIRE. |
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28 September 2010 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Sergeant Henry Hartigan, 9th ( Queen's Royal ) Lancers, an Indian Mutiny award, are held by the Newcastle-under-Lyme Museum and Art Gallery in Staffordshire. The Victoria Cross group was acquired by the museum in 1948 as part of a large collection of medals donated to the museum by a Major Hawley of Barlaston. A notebook which accompanies the medal collection states the Victoria Cross, Punjab Medal and Indian Mutiny Medal, were purchased by Major Hawley for the sum of £52.10 but does not say where he acquired them. However, after careful inspection of the Victoria Cross it would appear the Cross is not authentic having an unusual method of engraving ( see below & image ). The firm of Hancocks has confirmed their company records do not show any VC being engraved in this way and when comparing the engraving to another 9th Lancers Indian Mutiny medal awarded at the same time ( see below ) the engraving on the Hartigan VC does not match. Although the dates of Hartigan's VC actions does compare with the London Gazette citation. The impressed naming on Henry Hartigan's Punjab Medal and Indian Mutiny Medal does compare favourably with other 9th Lancers campaign medals of the time and do appear authentic, although Hartigan's name is misspelt on both medals. The clasp identities of 'Chilianwala', Goojerat' and 'Delhi' are comensurate with Henry Hartigan's entitlement. ( Hartigan was seriously wounded during this VC action at Delhi and therefore did not take part in further campaigns at Lucknow ). |
Method of engraving on reverse centre of Hartigan's Victoria Cross ( see image ) | SERJT |
H HARTIGAN |
9TH LANCERS |
8TH JUNE & OCT |
10TH 1857 |
Impressed naming on Hartigan's campaign medals | Punjab Medal - H HARTAGAN, 9TH LANCERS |
Indian Mutiny Medal - SERJT H HARTAGAN, 9TH LANCERS |
Method of engraving on reverse of Robert Kells' genuine 9th Lancers Victoria Cross | LANCE CORPL. R. KELLS |
9TH LANCERS |
28 SEP |
1857 |
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 19 June 1860 ], Budle-ke-Serai, Near Delhi, Indian Mutiny, 8 June & 10 October 1857, Sergeant Henry Hartigan, 9th ( Queen's Royal ) Lancers.
For daring and distinguished gallantry in the following instances: -
Henry Hartigan was invested with his Victoria Cross by Lady Hersey at Fort William, Calcutta, on the 24th December 1860.
Henry Hartigan died on the 29th October 1886, aged 60, at Calcutta, and was buried in the city's Barrackpore New Cemetery. The grave is unmarked.
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Iain Stewart, 28 September 2010