George Bell Chicken

George Bell Chicken VC (2 March 1833 – May 1860) was an English 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. He was one of only five civilians, and the last, to be awarded the VC.

Details
Born on 2 March 1833 at Howden Pans, Wallsend, Northumberland, he became a Master Mariner at the early age of 20, and was 25 years old at the time of his action, and a civilian volunteer in the Indian Naval Brigade during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 September 1858 at Suhejnee, near Peroo, Bengal, Chicken attached himself to a mixed party of troopers of mounted police and cavalry. They routed a force of about 100 mutineers and in the pursuit which followed Chicken forged ahead and charged into the middle of about 20 of the enemy, killing five before he was knocked off his horse and badly wounded. He would have been cut to pieces if four of the troopers had not galloped up and rescued him. His citation in the London Gazette reads: "Indian Naval Brigade.

For great gallantry on the 27th September, 1858, at Suhejnee, near Peroo, in having charged into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the scattered pursuers. They were surrounded on all sides, but, fighting desperately, Mr. Chicken succeeded in killing five before he was cut. down himself. He would have been cut to pieces, had not some of the men of the 1st Bengal Police and 3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry, dashed into the crowd to his rescue/and routed it, after killing several of the Enemy."

Further information
He was one of only five civilians, and the last, to be awarded the VC. His VC is described as "the only Naval VC to be won on horse-back".

Chicken was lost at sea in May 1860 when his schooner Emily was reportedly lost with all hands in the Bay of Bengal.

The medal
The VC was sent to his father, a master mariner of Shadwell, on 4 March 1862. The VC and Mutiny medal came up for sale in Canada in 1997. The auctioneer was Bud Haynes of Alberta and the price was $C95,000. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.