Personal info
- Name: Valentine BAMBRICK
- D.O.B: 13th Apr, 1837
- D.O.A: 6th May, 1858
- D.O.D: 1st Apr, 1864
- Award: Victoria Cross
- Occupation at time of action: Private, 1st Battalion 60th (King’s Royal Rifle Corps) Regiment of Foot
- Book: The Complete History - Volume 1
Bareilly, India 5-6 May 1858
5-6 May 1858
The Indian Mutiny 1857-59
After the outbreak of the Mutiny, Khan Bahadur Khan established what was, in effect, an independent kingdom in Rohilkhand with his capital at Bareilly. All Europeans who could be found were murdered. After the final capture of Lucknow in March 1858, the British advanced into Rohilkhand. On 5 May Sir Colin Campbell approached Bareilly from the south. Khan Bahadur Khan’s army came out to meet him, taking up its position south of a nullah and was driven back across it. However, as the 4th Punjab Rifles occupied old cavalry lines on the northern side of the nullah, they were subjected to a ferocious assault by ghazis. This then broke against the 42nd Regiment. At the same time the Rurki Field Force, of which 60th Regiment formed part, also reached Bareilly. The following day British forces advanced into Bareilly. Khan Bahadur Khan fled north and was executed at Bareilly in 1860, having been captured in Nepal.
Citation
For conspicuous bravery at Bareilly, on the 6th of May, 1858, when in a Serai, he was attacked by three Ghazees, one of whom he cut down. He was wounded twice on this occasion.