   thomas duffy vc (1806 â 24 december 1868), born in mount temple (caulry), athlone, county westmeath, was an irish recipient of the victoria cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to british and commonwealth forces. ==details== he was approximately 51 years old, and a private in the 1st madras european fusiliers (later the royal dublin fusiliers), indian army during the indian mutiny when the following deed took place on 26 september 1857 at lucknow, india for which he was awarded the vc: a 24-pounder gun which had been used against the enemy on the previous day was left in an exposed position and all efforts to reach it were unsuccessful, so heavy was the fire maintained on it by the mutineers. private duffy, however, who went out with two others, managed to fasten a rope to the gun in such a manner that it could be pulled away and was saved from falling into the hands of the enemy. his citation reads:  he died in dublin on 24 december 1868 and is buried in glasnevin cemetery. his victoria cross is displayed at the national army museum in chelsea, england. ==references==  *the register of the victoria cross (1981, 1988 and 1997) * *irelands vcs (dept of economic development 1995) *monuments to courage (david harvey, 1999) *irish winners of the victoria cross (richard doherty & david truesdale, 2000) ==external links== *location of grave and vc medal (dublin) {{persondata | name = duffy, thomas | alternative names = | short description = recipient of the victoria cross | date of birth = 1805 | place of birth = athlone, [[count
1805_births 1858_deaths 19th-century_Irish_people Burials_at_Glasnevin_Cemetery Indian_Rebellion_of_1857_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Irish_recipients_of_the_Victoria_Cross Irish_soldiers_in_the_British_East_India_Company_Army People_from_Athlone People_from_County_Westmeath