Valentine McMaster | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Born | 16 May 1834 Trichinopoly, British India |
| Died | 22 January 1872 Belfast, Ireland |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ | ){kind=small} British Army |
| Years of service | 1855 - 1872 |
| Rank | Surgeon |
| Unit | 78th Highlanders |
| Battles/wars | Anglo-Persian War Indian Mutiny Umbeyla Campaign |
| Awards | _ribbon.jpg')){kind=small} Victoria Cross |
Surgeon Valentine Munbee McMaster VC (16 May 1834 – 22 January 1872) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School with an MD[1] and LRCSE.[2] McMaster was 23 years old, and an assistant surgeon in the 78th Regiment of Foot (later The Seaforth Highlanders Ross-shire Buffs, Duke of Albany's) during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 25 September 1857, at the Siege of Lucknow for which he was awarded the VC:
For the intrepidity with which he exposed himself to the fire of the enemy, in bringing in, and attending to, the wounded, on the 25th of September, at Lucknow. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17 October 1857.)[3]
He later achieved the rank of surgeon.[4] McMaster died on 22 January 1872 in Belfast, Ireland and was buried in Belfast City Cemetery. There is a memorial to his memory in St. Columb's Cathedral in Derry. His widow,Eleanor Ann Burmister, went on to marry Campbell Mellis Douglas VC[5]
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
References
- ^ McMaster, Valentine Munbee (1860). "Urinary calculi".
- ^ London Gazette (PDF) http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/23828/pages/595/page.pdf. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2957.
- ^ "Valentine McMaster". www.britishmedals.net.
- ^ RAMC Journal Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
- Biography