George Bell Chicken VC

Name: George Bell Chicken

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: April 27, 1860

Service: Indian Naval Brigade

Place/date of birth: Bishopswearmouth, Co Durham /March 6, 1838

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Civilian – volunteer with the brigade

Date of bravery: September 27, 1858

London Gazette citation:

Mr George Bell Chicken, Indian Naval Brigade. Date of Act of Bravery, 27^th September, 1858.

For great gallantry on the 27th September, 1858, at Suhejnee, near Peroo, in having charged into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the scattered pursuers. They were surrounded on all sides, but, fighting desperately, Mr. Chicken succeeded in killing five before he was cut down himself. He would have been cut to pieces, had not some of the men of the 1st Bengal Police and 3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry, dashed into the crowd to his rescue, and routed it, after killing several of the Enemy.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: At sea near the Bay of Bengal/May 1860

Grave/memorials: Unknown

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Morton & Eden, London, 2006

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