Thomas Henry Kavanagh received the Victoria Cross (VC) for his bravery.
The actual medal is said to be held at the 'Militaria Collection of Toronto',
Ontario, Canada
Kavanagh, an Irishman in the Bengal Civil Service, volunteered on November
9th. Disguised as a native irregular soldier, ‘and with my talwar [Indian
sword] resting on my shoulder’, Kavanagh even engaged the enemy in conversation
before eventually reaching safety. If he had been caught, as a spy he would
have been killed.
The National Army Museum retains a shield that formed part of the
disguise worn by Kavanagh when he passed through the Mutineers’ lines
at Lucknow to the camp of the relieving forces.
