Thomas Esmonde (VC)

Thomas Esmonde VC (25 May 1829 – 14 January 1873) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

He was born in Pembrokestown, County Waterford, the son of Sir Thomas Esmonde, 9th Baronet of the Esmonde baronets. He was a brother of the 10th Baronet.

Details
Esmonde was 26 years old, and a captain in the 18th Regiment of Foot (later The Royal Irish Regiment), British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 June 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimean Peninsula, after being engaged in the attack on the Redan, Captain Esmonde repeatedly assisted, at great personal risk, in rescuing wounded men from exposed situations. Also, on 20 June while in command of a covering party he rushed to a spot where a fireball from the enemy had just lodged, and extinguished it before it could betray the position of his men, thus saving the party from a murderous fire of shell and grape which was immediately opened where the fireball had fallen.

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He died Bruges, Belgium, 14 January 1873 after his eye was infected by a branch.