Thomas Henry Kavanagh
Thomas Henry Kavanagh VC (15 July 1821 – 13 November 1882) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry which can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He is one of only five civilians to have ever been awarded the VC. Details. He was 36 years old, and a civilian in the Bengal Civil Service during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 9 November 1857 at the Siege of Lucknow, India for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross: An erratum appeared in a later  edition of the London Gazette stating that the deed was actually performed on 9 November as follows: Further information. Kavanagh was one of only five civilians awarded the VC. He died in Gibraltar on 13 November 1882, and is buried at North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar. Kavanagh's Victoria Cross (and a first edition of his book, "How I Won The Victoria Cross") is held by Historical-Militaria.com, a collector of historical military memorabilia in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In fiction. Kavanagh appears in George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman in the Great Game" in which he is portrayed as a bungling glory-seeker  who has to be led through the enemy lines by a reluctant and terrified Flashman. References. Listed in order of publication year