Edward Spence VC (28 December 1830 – 17 April 1858) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

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 A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Details

Spence was 27 years old, and a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

in the

42nd Regiment of Foot The 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot was a Scottish infantry regiment in the British Army also known as the Black Watch. Originally titled Crawford's Highlanders or the Highland Regiment and numbered 43rd in the line, in 1748, on the disband ...

(later The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)), British Army during the

Indian Mutiny The Indian Rebellion of 1857 was a major uprising in India in 1857–58 against the rule of the British East India Company, which functioned as a sovereign power on behalf of the British Crown. The rebellion began on 10 May 1857 in the fo ...

when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 15 April 1858 during the attack on

Fort Ruhya Fort Ruhya was a fort in Awadh, India (Called Oudh in historical British texts). It was the site of conflict during the Indian rebellion of 1857, during which 4 soldiers of the British Army were awarded the Victoria Cross. Today, there is a cemete ...

, India, Private Spence volunteered along with Lance-Corporal Alexander Thompson, to assist

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

William Martin Cafe in bringing in the body of a lieutenant from the top of the

glacis A glacis (; ) in military engineering is an artificial slope as part of a medieval castle or in bastion fort, early modern fortresses. They may be constructed of earth as a temporary structure or of stone in more permanent structure. More genera ...

. His citation read:

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the

Black Watch Museum Balhousie Castle, located in Perth, Scotland (on Hay Street, originally a few hundred metres north of the medieval town), was built in the 17th century. History The castle was built in 1631, although its origins are believed to go back a further ...

Perth, Scotland Perth (Scottish English, locally: ; gd, Peairt ) is a city in central Scotland, on the banks of the River Tay. It is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire. It had a population o ...

References

*'' Monuments to Courage'' (David Harvey, 1999) *'' The Register of the Victoria Cross'' (This England, 1997) *'' Scotland's Forgotten Valour'' (Graham Ross, 1995) {{DEFAULTSORT:Spence, Edward 1830 births 1858 deaths British recipients of the Victoria Cross Black Watch soldiers Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross People from Dumfries British Army personnel of the Crimean War British military personnel killed in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross