b. 28/04/1827 Woburn, Bedfordshire. d. 06/11/1886 Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
David Rushe (1827-1886) was born in Woburn, Bedfordshire on 28th April 1827, and he joined the 9th Lancers at the age of 18, taking part in the First and Second Sikh Wars. Little else is known about his military career prior to his actions at Lucknow on the 18th March 1858.
Rushe VC Medal Group
On that day, he and another private of the troop, attacked eight of the enemy, who had posted themselves in a mullah, and killed three of them. There is very little other information in his citation (published on 24th December 1858) which adds to this description.
Rushe received his medal from Queen Victoria on 4th January 1860 at Windsor Castle and was promoted to regimental sergeant-major. He died on 6th November 1886 at his home in Great Marlow, Buckinghamshire and he was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in All Saints Churchyard, Marlow. His medals were sold by his widow after his death, but were eventually recovered by his family in 1959. The medals are still owned by the Rushe family, but have been loaned to the 9th/12th Lancers Regimental Museum, Derby Art Museum and Gallery since 2011.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: 9TH/12TH LANCERS MUSEUM, DERBY. (LOAN FROM FAMILY)
BURIAL PLACE: MARLOW PARISH CHURCHYARD, MARLOW, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE (UNMARKED GRAVE).
Acknowledgement:
Thomas Stewart – Image of the Rushe VC Medal Group at the 9th/12th Lancers RHQ.