THE VICTORIA CROSS ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL SIR HARRY PRENDERGAST HELD BY THE ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM IN GILLINGHAM IS NOT THE ORIGINAL BUT A COPY.
30 October 2015

Medal entitlement of General Sir Harry Prendergast,
Corps of Madras Engineers, Indian Army

  • Victoria Cross
  • Knight Grand Cross, The Most Honourable Order of the Bath ( GCB )
  • India General Service Medal ( 1854-95 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Persia" - "Burma 1885-87"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
      1 clasp:
    • "Central India"
  • Abyssinian War Medal ( 1867-68 )

General Sir Harry Prendergast earned his Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny in 1857, having previously seen action in the Persia and Burma campaigns in the mid 19th Century. The Royal Engineers Museum later acquired the full Prendergast medal group as described above but although the GCB and the three campaign medals were the originals, the Victoria Cross was obviously a 'copy'. Therefore, it is a complete mystery why and when the Prendergast original Victoria Cross was replaced with this copy. Although in-depth research has been carried out many times into the life and career of Harry Prendergast none have come up with a satisfactory explanation for the missing VC.

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 21 October 1859 ], Mundisore, Indian Mutiny, 21 November 1857, Lieutenant Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast, Madras Engineers.

For conspicuous bravery on the 21st of November 1857, at Mundisore, in saving the life of Lieutenant G Dew, 14th Light Dragoons, at the risk of his own, by attempting to cut down a Velaitee, who covered him (Lieutenant Dew) with his piece, from only a few paces to the rear. Lieutenant Prendergast was wounded in this affair by the discharge of the piece, and would have probably been cut down, had not the rebel been killed by Major Orr. He also distinguished himself by his gallantry in the actions at Ratgurh and Betwa, when he was severely wounded.

Major-General Sir Hugh Rose, in forwarding his recommendation of this Officer, states:

Lieutenant Prendergast, Madras Engineers, was specially mentioned by Brigadier, now Sir Charles Stuart, for the gallant act at Mundisore, when he was severely wounded; secondly, he was "specially mentioned" by me when acting voluntarily as my Aide-de-Camp in the Action before besieging Ratgurh, on the Beena river, for gallant conduct. His horse was killed on that occasion. Thirdly, at the Action of "the Betwa" he again voluntarily acted as my Aide-de-Camp, and distinguished himself by his bravery in the charge, which I made with Captain Need’s troop, Her Majesty’s 14th Light Dragoons, against the left of the so-called Peishwa’s Army, under Tantia Topee. He was severely wounded on that occasion.

Harry Prendergast was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on the 4th January 1860.

Harry Prendergast died on the 24th July 1913 in Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, and was buried in the town's cemetery. The Prendergast family have recently provided funds to have General Prendergast's grave and headstone completely refurbished.

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Iain Stewart, 30 October 2015