George Monger VC

b. 03/03/1840 Woodmancott, Hampshire. d. 09/08/1887 St Leonards on Sea, Sussex.

George Monger (1840-1887) was born on 3rd March 1840 in Woodmancott, near Basingstoke, Hampshire. He joined the 23rd Regiment of Foot (later Royal Welsh Fusiliers) as a Boy Soldier in 1855 and served throughout the Indian Mutiny of 1857-1859.

George Monger VC

On the 18th November 1857, during the fighting around the Secundra Bagh in Lucknow, Monger rushed to support Lieutenant Thomas Hackett, in attempting to rescue a wounded Corporal who was lying in the open, being fired upon by the enemy. Monger helped Hackett to remove the Corporal safely out of danger, despite the huge risk to themselves.

Monger, like Hackett, was recommended for the VC, and following the citation being published on 12th April 1859, he received his medal from Sir Colin Campbell in Lucknow in May 1860. Monger remained in the Army until 1868 when he was discharged, but he found civilian life extremely tough. He married and had nine children, four of whom tragically died in infancy. He was employed as a plasterer with a Hastings building firm in Sussex, until asthma prevented him from working. Slipping further into poverty, he was helped by a local retired soldier, Major-General Sherer, who raised funds to help the family.

Finally, ill-health took its toll on Monger, and he died from TB on 9th August 1887, and he was buried with full military honours in the Borough Cemetery in Hastings. The grave became heavily overgrown until work by local cadets in 1990 restored it. His medals are held by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum, Caernarvon Castle.

 

LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL WELSH FUSILIERS MUSEUM, CAERNARFON

BURIAL PLACE: HASTINGS BOROUGH CEMETERY, HASTINGS, SUSSEX.

SECTION EH.

Acknowledgements:

Steve Davies – Image of the Monger VC Grave.

Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Plan.

Thomas Stewart – Image of the Monger VC Medal Group at the Royal Welsh Fusiliers Museum, Caernarvon.