Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

‘The heroes of Delhi are so many that it is difficult to choose among them. Place must be found, however, for brief mention of Colour-Sergeant Stephen Garvin of the 60th Rifles ... in June 1857 the British army on the Ridge was greatly harassed by rebel sharpshooters who took up their position in a building known as the “Sammy House.” It was essential that this hornet’s nest should be destroyed, and volunteers were called for. For this service Colour-Sergeant Garvin promptly stepped forward and, with a small party of daring spirits, set out on what looked to most a forlorn hope.

What the rebels thought of this impudent attempt to oust them from their stronghold we cannot tell, for but one or two of them escaped to the city with their lives. Such an onslaught as they received at the “Sammy House,” when Garvin and his valiant dozen rushed the place, quite surpassing anything in their experience. The Colour-Sergeant is described as hewing and hacking like a paladin of romance, and for his bravery and the example he set to his followers, he well deserved the Cross that later adorned his breast.’

The Book of the V.C., by A. L. Haydon, refers.

The unique Indian Mutiny V.C., D.C.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant-Major Stephen Garvin, 1/60th Rifles, and afterwards a Yeoman of the Guard, who was twice decorated for his gallantry in the Delhi operations, not least for his part in leading a storming against the enemy’s stronghold at the “Sammy House” in June 1857: wounded a little over two months later, probably in the action for which he was awarded his D.C.M., he duly entered the record books as the most decorated non-commissioned soldier to emerge from the conflict

Victoria Cross (Color Serjt. Stepn. Garvin, 60th Rifles; 23 June 1857); Distinguished Conduct Medal, V.R. (Clr.-Srjt. S. Garvin, 1st Btn. 60th Rifls.); Punjab 1848-49, 2 clasps, Mooltan, Goojerat (Serjt. S. Garvin, 1st Bn. 60th R. Rifles); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (2176 Sgt. S. Garvin, H.Ms. 1st Bn. 60th Regt.), the ‘t.’ of rank inverted; Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Colr. Serjt. S. Garvin, 1st Bn. 60th Rifles); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (2176 Cr. Sjt. S. Garvin, 1st Bn. 60th Regt.), the third with loss of part of rank from edge bruising, good fine, contact marks overall, otherwise generally very fine (6) £120,000-140,000

V.C. London Gazette 20 January 1860:

‘For daring and gallant conduct before Delhi on 23 June 1857, in volunteering to lead a small party of men, under a heavy fire, to the ‘Sammy House’ for the purpose of dislodging a number of the enemy in position there, who kept up a destructive fire on the advanced battery of heavy guns, in which, after a sharp contest, he succeeded. Also recommended for gallant conduct throughout the operations before Delhi.’

Stephen Garvin was born in Cashel, Co. Tipperary in 1826, and originally enlisted in the 74th Regiment in July 1842. Two years later, however, he transferred to the 60th Rifles, in which capacity he was embarked for India with the 1st Battalion.

Advanced to Corporal in October 1845 and to Sergeant in December 1847, he saw action in the Punjab campaign 1848-49, when he was present at the siege and capture of Mooltan, and in the battle of Goojerat (Medal & 2 clasps). He was also present in operations on the North-West Frontier in December 1849, when the 60th, under Lieutenant-Colonel J. Bradshaw, C.B., participated in two attacks, namely uphill assaults against the villages of Sanghoo and Pali (Medal & clasp).

Mutiny

Still serving in India in the 1st Battalion in May 1857, as a Colour-Sergeant, Garvin witnessed the outbreak of the mutiny at Meerut on the 10th, where, according to Wolmer Whyte’s History of the Regiments of the British Army, ‘the Riflemen picked up some of the bodies of the murdered victims, then returned, and having formed a ring of picquets round English women and children who had taken refuge in the lines, they bivouacked on the Mall’. Whyte continues:

‘When, next morning, the Riflemen made a reconnaissance they came across the bodies of two Riflemen of ‘A’ Company, mutilated almost beyond recognition. They also found the body of Mrs. Chalmers, who had only lately arrived from England. Both officers and men knew and loved her for her devotion to the women and children of the regiment, and when her dismembered remains were seen in a ditch by the roadside, the Riflemen raised their weapons in the air and swore that her death would be avenged ... so well did the Riflemen keep their oath that in a few weeks they were known by the natives as “the Regiment from Hell.” The scenes of massacre and outrage which were now so commonly met with strengthened the determination of all ranks to overcome the enemy, who, it was discovered, were retreating from Meerut and marching on Delhi, 40 miles away.’

Delhi - pay back - V.C. and D.C.M.

Of subsequent events at Delhi, Focus on Courage, by Lieutenant-General Sir Christopher Wallace and Major Ron Cassidy, takes up the story:

‘On 23 June 1857 it was anticipated that the rebels would mount a major attack to seize Delhi Ridge and avenge the decisive British victory at the Battle of Plassey exactly 100 years previously. When the attack was launched at 5.a.m., the defenders were prepared and for the next 12 hours the battle raged until eventually the rebels withdrew at sunset behind the city walls of Delhi. Quoting from the Regimental History:

During the course of the day Captain Fagan - a hero among heroes - commanding the right [artillery] battery in front of Hindoo Rao's house, asked Lieutenant Hare to drive the enemy from a temple - the Swansi (or idol), but corrupted by the British soldier into the 'Sammy House' [at the south-eastern extremity of Delhi ridge closest to the city] - which the mutineers had occupied as a post of vantage, and whence a well-directed fire upon our embrasures was being maintained. This fire could not be returned; for, although the distance was only about 250 yards, the temple stood on ground so much below Fagan that he could not sufficiently depress his guns. The men of Hare's company were by this time lying on the ground utterly exhausted: the task appeared desperate; but at Hare's call for volunteers the whole Company at once rose and rushed down upon the Sammy House, which was soon in its possession. Sergeant Stephen Garvin set an example of distinguished valour, for which, in due course, he received the Victoria Cross. The Sammy House thus taken was never again occupied by the enemy.’

He was awarded the V.C., which distinction was announced in The London Gazette on 20 January 1860, alongside that of Rifleman Samuel Turner. The same edition of the gazette also included the names of five other members of the 1/60th who received V.Cs based on the ballot arrangements listed under Clause 13 of the Royal Warrant dated 29 January 1856.

Meanwhile, on 3 September 1857, Garvin had sustained a gunshot contusion in the left side of his groin, most probably in the action which led to the award of his D.C.M. - an excessively rare distinction owing to the fact that no more than a dozen or so men were similarly decorated for the Indian Mutiny.

Returning home with the 1/60th in early 1860, Garvin received his V.C. from Queen Victoria at an investiture held in Windsor Home Park on 9 November.

Having then added the L.S. & G.C. Medal to his accolades in May 1861, he transferred to the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment at the end of the same year, and was discharged as a Sergeant-Major in April 1865. Five years later, after further service in the Militia, he was appointed a Yeoman of the Guard.

Stephen Garvin, the only recipient of both the V.C. and D.C.M. for the Indian Mutiny, died at Chesterton, Cambridgeshire on 23 November 1874, aged 48 years.