Harry Hammon Lyster VC

Name: Harry Hammon Lyster

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: October 21, 1859

Service: Indian Army

Place/date of birth: Blackrock, Co Dublin, Ireland/December 24, 1830

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (later Lieutenant General)

Date of bravery: May 23, 1858

London Gazette citation:

72^nd Bengal Native Infantry. Lieutenant Harry Hammon Lyster. Date of Act of Bravery, 23^rd May, 1858.

For gallantly charging and breaking, singly, a skirmishing square of the retreating Rebel Army from Calpee, and killing two or three Sepoys, in the conflict. Major-General Sir Hugh Henry Rose, G.C.B., reports that this Act of Bravery was witnessed by himself and by Lieutenant Colonel Gall, C.B., of the 14th Light Dragoons.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: CB

Place/date of death: London/February 1, 1922

Grave/memorials: St James the Less Churchyard, Stubbing, Berkshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Spink, London, 1990.

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