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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Short description|Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=James McGuire
|name=James McGuire
|honorific_suffix=
|honorific_suffix={{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|VC}}
|image= Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|image= Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|image_size= 125
|image_size= 125
|caption=
|caption=
|birth_date=1827
|birth_date= c. 1827
|death_date=22 December {{death year and age|1862|1827}}
|death_date=22 December {{death year and age|1862|1827}}
|birth_place=[[Enniskillen]], [[County Fermanagh]], [[Ireland]]
|birth_place=[[Enniskillen]], [[County Fermanagh]], Ireland
|death_place=[[Derry]], [[County Londonderry]], Ireland
|death_place=[[Derry]], Ireland
|placeofburial=Donagh Cemetery
|placeofburial=Donagh Cemetery
|nickname=
|nickname=
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}}
}}


'''James McGuire''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (1827 – 22 December 1862) was an [[Irish people|Irish]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. The V.C. was later forfeited.
'''James McGuire''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|VC}} (c. 1827 – 22 December 1862) was an [[Irish people|Irish]] recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]], the highest British military decoration. It was awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The VC was later forfeited.


==Details==
==Details==
He was about 30 years old, and a [[sergeant]] in the [[101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)|1st Bengal European Fusiliers]] (later The [[Royal Munster Fusiliers]]), [[Bengal Army]] during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deed took place on 14 September 1857 at [[Delhi]], [[India]] for which he together with Drummer [[Miles Ryan]] were awarded the VC:
McGuire was about 30 years old and a [[sergeant]] in the [[101st Regiment of Foot (Royal Bengal Fusiliers)|1st Bengal European Fusiliers]] (later the [[Royal Munster Fusiliers]]), [[Bengal Army]], during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deed took place on 14 September 1857 at [[Delhi]], for which he together with Drummer [[Miles Ryan]] was awarded the VC:
{{quote|Serjeant J. McGuire, Drummer M. Ryan<br />
{{blockquote|Serjeant J. McGuire, Drummer M. Ryan<br />
Date of Act of Bravery, 14th September, 1857<br />
Date of Act of Bravery, 14th September, 1857<br />
At the assault on Delhi on the 14th September, 1857, when the Brigade had reached the Cabul Gate, the 1st Fusiliers and 75th Regiment, and some Sikhs, were waiting for orders, and some of the Regiments were getting ammunition served out (three boxes of which exploded from some cause not clearly known, and two others were in a state of ignition), when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan rushed into the burning mass, and, seizing the boxes, threw them, one after the other, over the parapet into the water. The confusion consequent on the explosion was very great, and the crowd of soldiers and native followers, who did not know where the danger lay, were rushing into certain destruction, when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan, by their coolness and personal daring, saved the lives of many at the risk of their own.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22212|page=5519|date=24 December 1858}}</ref> }}
At the assault on Delhi on the 14th September, 1857, when the Brigade had reached the Cabul Gate, the 1st Fusiliers and 75th Regiment, and some Sikhs, were waiting for orders, and some of the Regiments were getting ammunition served out (three boxes of which exploded from some cause not clearly known, and two others were in a state of ignition), when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan rushed into the burning mass, and, seizing the boxes, threw them, one after the other, over the parapet into the water. The confusion consequent on the explosion was very great, and the crowd of soldiers and native followers, who did not know where the danger lay, were rushing into certain destruction, when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan, by their coolness and personal daring, saved the lives of many at the risk of their own.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22212|page=5519|date=24 December 1858}}</ref> }}


==Further information==
==Further information==
One of eight men whose VCs were forfeited. McGuire's VC was forfeited after he was convicted of stealing a cow. He died in [[Derry]], Ireland, 22 December 1862.
McGuire's VC was forfeited after he was convicted of stealing a cow, making him one of eight men to lose their VCs. He died in [[Derry]], Ireland, 22 December 1862.


==Medal's location==
==Medal's location==
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[National Army Museum]] ''([[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], England)''.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[National Army Museum]] in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], England.


==See also==
==See also==
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* {{cite book|last=McCance |first=S. |title=History of The Royal Munster Fusiliers from 1861 to 1922|volume=1 |chapter=Appendix 'L' |page=222 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book|last=McCance |first=S. |title=History of The Royal Munster Fusiliers from 1861 to 1922|volume=1 |chapter=Appendix 'L' |page=222 |ref=none}}
*{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=Iain |url=http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/nireland.htm |title=Grave Location for Holders of the Victoria Cross in: Northern Ireland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716192304/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/nireland.htm |archive-date=16 July 2012 |ref=none}}—''Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland''
*{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=Iain |url=http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/nireland.htm |title=Grave Location for Holders of the Victoria Cross in: Northern Ireland |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716192304/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/nireland.htm |archive-date=16 July 2012 |ref=none}}—''Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland''
*{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org/e6mcguir.htm |title=Sergeant James McGuire V. C | website=www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org| date=29 October 2010 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415201733/http://www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org/e6mcguir.htm | archive-date=15 Apr 2013}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org/e6mcguir.htm |title=Sergeant James McGuire V. C | website=royalmunsterfusiliers.org| date=29 October 2010 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415201733/http://www.royalmunsterfusiliers.org/e6mcguir.htm | archive-date=15 April 2013}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuire, James}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McGuire, James}}
[[Category:Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Victoria Cross forfeitures]]
[[Category:Victoria Cross forfeitures]]
[[Category:1827 births]]
[[Category:1820s births]]
[[Category:1862 deaths]]
[[Category:1862 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish people]]
[[Category:19th-century Irish people]]

Latest revision as of 22:21, 25 February 2026


James McGuire

Bornc. 1827
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland
Died22 December 1862 (aged 34–35)
Derry, Ireland
Buried
Donagh Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchBengal Army
Years of service1849–1859
RankSergeant
Unit1st Bengal European Fusiliers
Battles/wars
AwardsVictoria Cross (forfeited)

James McGuire VC (c. 1827 – 22 December 1862) was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest British military decoration. It was awarded for gallantry in the face of the enemy. The VC was later forfeited.

Details[edit | edit source]

McGuire was about 30 years old and a sergeant in the 1st Bengal European Fusiliers (later the Royal Munster Fusiliers), Bengal Army, during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 14 September 1857 at Delhi, for which he together with Drummer Miles Ryan was awarded the VC:

Serjeant J. McGuire, Drummer M. Ryan

Date of Act of Bravery, 14th September, 1857

At the assault on Delhi on the 14th September, 1857, when the Brigade had reached the Cabul Gate, the 1st Fusiliers and 75th Regiment, and some Sikhs, were waiting for orders, and some of the Regiments were getting ammunition served out (three boxes of which exploded from some cause not clearly known, and two others were in a state of ignition), when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan rushed into the burning mass, and, seizing the boxes, threw them, one after the other, over the parapet into the water. The confusion consequent on the explosion was very great, and the crowd of soldiers and native followers, who did not know where the danger lay, were rushing into certain destruction, when Serjeant McGuire and Drummer Ryan, by their coolness and personal daring, saved the lives of many at the risk of their own.[1]

Further information[edit | edit source]

McGuire's VC was forfeited after he was convicted of stealing a cow, making him one of eight men to lose their VCs. He died in Derry, Ireland, 22 December 1862.

Medal's location[edit | edit source]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, England.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5519.

Further reading[edit | edit source]