b. 1829 Wexford, Ireland. d. 20/07/1896 Clapham, London.
John Sinnott (1829-1896) was born in County Wexford in Ireland in 1829, and enlisted as a 20 year- old in Dublin into the 84th Regiment of Foot (later York and Lancaster Regiment). The 84th Regiment was posted to Burma after the war of 1851 and was one of the first units to respond to the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857. Joining up with Havelock’s Column at Calcutta, it fought in every engagement until it reached the Lucknow Residency. It was in Lucknow that Corporal Sinnott performed the act of valour which saw him awarded the Victoria Cross on 24th December 1858.
John Sinnott VC
On that day, Lieutenant Ghibaut had gone out under heavy fire to collect water in order to extinguish a fire in the breastwork. During this action, Ghibaut was hit and mortally wounded. He was left lying in the open, under heavy fire. Sinnott, along with Sergeants Glynn and Mullins, and Private Mullins, rushed out into the open and picked up and carried Ghibaut to cover. Sinnott was hit and wounded twice.
Sinnott was presented with his medal by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 4th January 1860. He later served in Malta and Jamaica, before he was discharged in 1870 with the rank of Sergeant. Sinnott died on 20th July 1896 in Clapham, London and was buried in Battersea New Cemetery. His medals are held by the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum, Rotherham.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: YORK&LANCASTER RGT MUSEUM, ROTHERHAM.
BURIAL PLACE: BATTERSEA NEW CEMETERY, MORDEN, SURREY.
COMMON GRAVE H-10
Acknowledgement:
Kevin Brazier – Image of the Sinnott VC Grave and the accompanying cemetery map from Battersea New Cemetery.