Denis Dynon VC

Name: Denis Dynon (also known as Denis Dynan)

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: February 25, 1862

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Kilmannon, Queen’s County (now Co Laoise, Ireland)/ September 1822

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Sergeant

Date of bravery: October 2, 1857

London Gazette citation [joint citation]:

53^rd Regiment. No. 2165 Serjeant Denis Dynon. Date of Act of Bravery, October 2^nd, 1857.

Lieutenant Daunt and Serjeant Dynon are recommended for conspicuous gallantry in action, on the 2nd of October, 1857, with the Mutineers of the Ramgurh Battalion at Chota Behar, in capturing two guns, particularly the last, when they rushed at and captured it by pistoling the gunners, who were mowing the detachment down with grape, one-third of which was hors-de-combat at the time.

Lieutenant Daunt is also recommended for chasing, on the 2nd of November following, the Mutineers of the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry across a plain into a rich cultivation, into which he followed them with a few of Rattray’s Sikhs. He was dangerously wounded in the attempt to drive out a large body of these Mutineers from an enclosure, the preservation of many of his party, on this occasion, being attributed to his gallantry.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Dublin, Ireland/February 16, 1863

Grave/memorials: Unknown

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Sotheby’s, London, 1998

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum