Peter Gill VC

Name:  Peter Gill

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: August 24, 1858

Service: Indian Army

Place/date of birth: St Paul’s, Dublin, Ireland/September 1821

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Sergeant-Major (Lieutenant and Barrack Master)

Date of bravery: June 4, 1857

London Gazette citation:

Serjeant-Major Peter Gill, Loodiana Regiment

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.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Morar, Gwalior, India/October 24, 1868

Grave/memorials: Headstone, Artillery Lines Cemetery, Morar, Gwalior; plaque on wall in Christ Church, Old Garrison Church, Morar, India

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2023

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