b. 03/1826 Dublin, Ireland. d. 31/08/1865 Secunderabad, India
John Farrell (1826-1865) sadly is a recipient of which very little is known of his life. He was born in Dublin, Ireland in March 1826 and enlisted in the British Army sometime prior to the outbreak of hostilities in the Crimea. His chosen regiment was the 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge’s Own), and in 1854, he was posted to the Crimea when war broke out.
Farrell VC Action
On 25th October 1854, he saw action at the Battle of Balaklava and during the Charge of the Light Brigade, Sergeant Farrell lost his horse when it was shot from under him. He then stopped on the field amidst a hail of shot and shells and chose to help Troop Sergeant Major John Berryman and Sergeant Joseph Malone to move a severely wounded officer (Captain Webb) out of the range of the guns. Sadly, Webb would die later of his wounds following an amputation of his leg.
Farrell, alongside both Berryman and Malone was awarded the VC (London Gazette 24th February 1857), and received his medal from Queen Victoria at Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. Farrell subsequently served during the Indian Mutiny and reached the rank of Quartermaster-Sergeant. He was killed in action at Secunderabad on 31st August 1865 and is buried in an unmarked grave in Secunderabad Cemetery. His medals are not publicly held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: SECUNDERABAD CEMETERY, INDIA. (UNMARKED)
