Mayo soldier’s Victoria Cross sold for £55,000

AN Indian Mutiny Victoria Cross (V.C.), awarded to Mayo man Edmond Jennings for gallantry during the Relief of Lucknow in November 1857, sold for a hammer price of £55,000 at Noonan’s Mayfair in their auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria recently.

It was expected to fetch between £20,000 and £30,000.

Jennings, whose name is often given as Edward, served with the Bengal Horse Artillery.

Jennings (42) had been nominated by his fellow non-commissioned officers to be given the V.C. - described as Clause 13 V.C. The medal was awarded for gallantry during the Relief of Lucknow, specifically for rescuing a wounded officer when under attack and taking him to safety on his own horse.

Edmond was born in Ballinrobe in 1815. He saw active service during the First Afghan War and during the First Sikh War.

Jennings retired from the military in March 1859 and settled in Britain. He was later employed as a council roadsweepers in North Shields.

But he eventually found it hard to make ends met and he sold his Victoria Cross to a private collector.

He died in poverty in North Shields on May 10, 1889, and was buried in a pauper's grave in Preston Cemetery.

A new headstone was erected over his grave in 1997.

A second generation Irishman, Pierce Noonan, CEO of Noonan’s Mayfair, told the Irish Post he is always delighted to be involved in lots that have an Irish dimension. He has his roots in Cashel, Co. Tipperary.