b. 13/05/1845 Petagurh, Gujarat, India. d. 07/03/1883 Delhi, India.
Andrew Fitzgibbon (1845-1883) has the distinction of being the joint youngest recipient of the Victoria Cross, at 15 years and 3 months old at time of his award. He was born on 13th May 1845 in Petagurh, Gujarat, India. At the time of his award, Fitzgibbon was a Hospital Apprentice in the Indian Medical Establishment who were attached to the 67th Regiment of Foot (later Hampshire Regiment) when they became involved in the China Campaign, and the assault on the Taku Forts.
Fitzgibbon VC Medals (Copies)
On the 21st August 1860, during the assault, he was accompanying a wing of the 67th Regiment when it took up a position within 500 yards of the fort. He then proceeded, under heavy enemy fire, to attend to a dhoolie-bearer, whose wound Fitzgibbon had been ordered to bind up. While the regiment then moved forward, Fitzgibbon was seen to run across open ground under fire, to attend to another wounded man. In this action, he was hit and severely wounded.
Fitzgibbon survived his wound, and was gazetted for the VC on 13th August 1861, under the name Arthur Fitzgibbon (an error). There is no details on when or where Fitzgibbon received his VC so it’s likely he would probably have received it by registered post. Following his exploits in China, he returned to India, where he became an Apothecary, before he died aged just 38 on 7th March 1883 in Delhi. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Old Delhi Military Cemetery, and it is believed that his VC was buried with him.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: BELIEVED TO BE BURIED WITH HIM.
BURIAL PLACE: OLD MILITARY CEMETERY, DELHI, INDIA. (UNMARKED)
