The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-17 00:00:00

VIC7ORIA CROSS.

(Front the Gazette of this evening.)
WAR-OFFICE, FEB. 17.
The Queen having been graciously pleased, by a warrant
under her Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the 13th of
December, 1858, to declare that non-military persona who,
as volunteers, have borne arms against the mutineers, both
at Lucknow and elsewhere. during the late operations in
India, shall be considered as eligible to receive the decora-
tion of the Victoria Cross, subject to the rules and ordi-
nances already made and ordained for the government
thereof, provided that it be established in any case that
the person was serving under the orde: a of a general or
other officer in command of troops in the field, when he
performed the act of bravery for which it is proposed to
confer the decoration ;—Her Majesty has accordingly been
pleased to signify her intention to confer this
high distinction on the undermentioned gentleman,
whose claim to the same has been submitted
for her Majesty's approval, on account of an act of bravery
performed by him in India, as recorded against his name,
viz. :
Mr. William Fraser M'Donnell, of the Bengal Civil Ser-
vice, Magistrate of Saran—For great coolness and bravery
on July 30, 1857, during the retreat of the British troops
from Arrah, in having climbed, under an incessant fire, out-
side the boat in which he and several soldiers were, up to
the rudder, and with considerable difficulty cut through the
lashing which secured it to the side of the boat. On the
lashing being out, the boat obeyed the helm, and thus
thirty. five European soldiers escaped certain death.
Her Majesty has also been graciously pleased to signify
her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross
on the undermentioned officers and private soldier, whose
claims to the same have been submitted for her Majesty's
approval, on account of acts of bravery performed by them
in India, as recorded against their several name., viz.:—
Captain William Martin Cafe, 56th Bengal Native In-
fantry—For bearing away, under a heavy fire, with the
assistance of Privates Thompson, Crowio, Spence, and Cook,
the body of Lieutenant Willoughby, lying near the ditch of
the Fort of Ruhya, and for running to the rescue of PH-
I vete Spence, who had been severely wounded in the attempt.
Lieutenant Francis David Millet Brown, Ist European
Bengal Fusiliers—For great gallantry at Narrioul, on the
16th November, 1857, in having, at the imminent risk of
his own life, rushed to the assistance of a wounded soldier of
the Ist European Bengal Fusiliers, whom he carried off,
under a very heavy fire from the enemy, whose cavalry
were within forty or fifty yards of him at the time.
Private Denis Dempsey, 10th Regiment (Ist Battalion)
—For having, at Lucknow, on the 11th March, 1858,
carried a powder bag through a burning village, with great
coolness and gallantry, for the purpose of mining a pas-
sage in rear of the enemy's position. This he did, exposed
to a very heavy fire from the enemy behind loopholed
walls, and to an almost still greater danger from the sparks
which flew in every direction from the blazing houses.
Also, for having been the first man who entered the village
of Jugdispore on the 12th August, 1857, under a most
galling fire. Private Dempsey was likewise ono of those
who helped to carry Ensign Erskine, of the 10th Regi-
ment, in the retreat from Arrah, in July, 1857.

LONDON GAZETTE-(THIS EVENING.)