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{{Short description|English recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name= Thomas Hancock
| name = Thomas Hancock
| honorific_suffix =
|birth_date=July 1823
| birth_date = {{birth date|1823|07||df=yes}}
|death_date= 12 March 1871 (aged 47)
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1871|03|12|1823|07||}}
|birth_place= [[Kensington]], [[London]]
| birth_place = [[Kensington]], [[London]]
|death_place=Westminster [[Workhouse]]
| death_place = Westminster [[Workhouse]]
|placeofburial=[[Brompton Cemetery]]
| placeofburial = [[Brompton Cemetery]]
|image= [[image:Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png|125px]]
| image = Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|caption=
| image_size = 125
|nickname=
⚫
| caption =
|allegiance= {{UK}}
| nickname =
⚫
|serviceyears=
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
⚫
|rank=[[Corporal]]
⚫
| serviceyears =
|branch=[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
⚫
| rank = [[Corporal]]
⚫
|commands=
| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}
⚫
|unit=[[9th Lancers]]
⚫
| commands =
⚫
|battles=[[Indian Mutiny]]
⚫
| unit = [[9th Lancers]]
⚫
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]
⚫
| battles = [[Indian Mutiny]]
⚫
|laterwork=
⚫
| awards = [[Victoria Cross]]
⚫
| laterwork =
}}
}}
'''Thomas Hancock''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (July 1823 - 12 March 1871) was an [[England|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 [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.
'''Thomas Hancock''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] (July 1823 – 12 March 1871) was an [[England|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 [[United Kingdom|British]] and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces.


==Details==
==Details==
He was about 33 years old, and a [[private (rank)|private]] in the [[9th Lancers]] (The Queen's Royal), [[British Army]] during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deed took place on 19 June 1857 at [[Delhi]], [[India]] for which he and [[John Purcell]] were awarded the VC:
He was about 33 years old, and a [[private (rank)|private]] in the [[9th Lancers]] (The Queen's Royal), [[British Army]] during the [[Indian Mutiny]] when the following deed took place on 19 June 1857 at [[Delhi]], [[India]] for which he and [[John Purcell (VC)|John Purcell]] were awarded the VC:
{{quote|9th Lancers. Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell
{{blockquote|9th Lancers. Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell


"The guns, I am happy to say,. were saved, but a waggon of Major Scott's battery was blown up. I must not fail to mention the
"The guns, I am happy to say,. were saved, but a waggon of Major Scott's battery was blown up. I must not fail to mention the
excellent conduct of a Sowar of the 4th Irregular Cavalry, and two men of the 9th Lancers, Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell, who, when my horse was shot down, remained by me throughout. One of these men and the Sowar offered me their horses, and I was dragged out by the Sowar's horse. Private Hancock was severely wounded, and Private Purcell's horse was killed under him. The Sowar's name is Roopur Khan."
excellent conduct of a Sowar of the 4th Irregular Cavalry, and two men of the 9th Lancers, Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell, who, when my horse was shot down, remained by me throughout. One of these men and the Sowar offered me their horses, and I was dragged out by the Sowar's horse. Private Hancock was severely wounded, and Private Purcell's horse was killed under him. The Sowar's name is Roopur Khan."


Extract of a letter from Brigadier J. H. Grant, C.B., Commanding Cavalry Brigade of the Field Force, to the Deputy Assistant-Adjutant General of Division. Dated Camp, Delhi, June 22, 1857.)}}<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22083|startpage=178|date=15 January 1858|accessdate=19 September 2009}}</ref>
Extract of a letter from Brigadier J. H. Grant, C.B., Commanding Cavalry Brigade of the Field Force, to the Deputy Assistant-Adjutant General of Division. Dated Camp, Delhi, 22 June 1857.)}}<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22083|page=178|date=15 January 1858}}</ref>


In a later dispatch from Brigadier-General [[Hope Grant]], C.B. to Major H. W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army, on 10 January 1858, Hope writes:{{quote|I had the sincere gratification of naming two privates of the 9th Lancers, who had displayed signal gallantry in the fight - Privates Thomas Hancock, who lost an arm on the occasion, and John Purcell, who had his horse shot under him, and was, I regret to say, afterwards killed at the assault of Delhi. Sir Henry Barnard was pleased to recommend that the Victoria Cross should be conferred on both.}}<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/22130/pages/1990 London Gazette]</ref>
In a later dispatch from Brigadier-General [[Hope Grant]], C.B. to Major H. W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army, on 10 January 1858, Hope writes:{{blockquote|I had the sincere gratification of naming two privates of the 9th Lancers, who had displayed signal gallantry in the fight - Privates Thomas Hancock, who lost an arm on the occasion, and John Purcell, who had his horse shot under him, and was, I regret to say, afterwards killed at the assault of Delhi. Sir Henry Barnard was pleased to recommend that the Victoria Cross should be conferred on both.}}<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/22130/pages/1990 London Gazette]</ref>


He later achieved the rank of [[corporal]]. He died in [[Westminster]] [[Workhouse]], 12 March 1871, and is buried in a common (unmarked) grave in [[Brompton Cemetery]].
He later achieved the rank of [[corporal]]. He died in [[Westminster]] [[Workhouse]], 12 March 1871, and was buried in a common (unmarked) grave in [[Brompton Cemetery]]. A memorial stone was subsequently placed over the burial plot on 15 October 2011.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/brompton.htm Location of grave] ''(Brompton Cemetery)''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041028141724/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/brompton.htm Location of grave] ''(Brompton Cemetery)''
*[http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbhancoc.htm Placing memorial stone]
*[http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Hancock&GSfn=Thomas&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1871&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=7710984& Find A Grave biography of Thomas Hancock]


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME = Hancock, Thomas
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1823
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Kensington]], [[London]]
| DATE OF DEATH = 12 March 1871
| PLACE OF DEATH = Westminster [[Workhouse]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Thomas}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hancock, Thomas}}
[[Category:1823 births]]
[[Category:1823 births]]
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[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]]
[[Category:Burials at Brompton Cemetery]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross]]
[[Category:Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea]]
[[Category:People from Kensington]]
[[Category:People from Kensington]]
[[Category:English amputees]]
[[Category:English amputees]]
[[Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross]]

Latest revision as of 05:16, 4 July 2024

Thomas Hancock
Born(1823-07-00)July 1823
Kensington, London
Died12 March 1871(1871-03-12) (aged 47)
Westminster Workhouse
Buried
Brompton Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankCorporal
Unit9th Lancers
Battles/warsIndian Mutiny
AwardsVictoria Cross

Thomas Hancock VC (July 1823 – 12 March 1871) 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.

Details[edit]

He was about 33 years old, and a private in the 9th Lancers (The Queen's Royal), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 19 June 1857 at Delhi, India for which he and John Purcell were awarded the VC:

9th Lancers. Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell

"The guns, I am happy to say,. were saved, but a waggon of Major Scott's battery was blown up. I must not fail to mention the excellent conduct of a Sowar of the 4th Irregular Cavalry, and two men of the 9th Lancers, Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell, who, when my horse was shot down, remained by me throughout. One of these men and the Sowar offered me their horses, and I was dragged out by the Sowar's horse. Private Hancock was severely wounded, and Private Purcell's horse was killed under him. The Sowar's name is Roopur Khan."

Extract of a letter from Brigadier J. H. Grant, C.B., Commanding Cavalry Brigade of the Field Force, to the Deputy Assistant-Adjutant General of Division. Dated Camp, Delhi, 22 June 1857.)

[1] In a later dispatch from Brigadier-General Hope Grant, C.B. to Major H. W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army, on 10 January 1858, Hope writes:

I had the sincere gratification of naming two privates of the 9th Lancers, who had displayed signal gallantry in the fight - Privates Thomas Hancock, who lost an arm on the occasion, and John Purcell, who had his horse shot under him, and was, I regret to say, afterwards killed at the assault of Delhi. Sir Henry Barnard was pleased to recommend that the Victoria Cross should be conferred on both.

[2]

He later achieved the rank of corporal. He died in Westminster Workhouse, 12 March 1871, and was buried in a common (unmarked) grave in Brompton Cemetery. A memorial stone was subsequently placed over the burial plot on 15 October 2011.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "No. 22083". The London Gazette. 15 January 1858. p. 178.
  2. ^ London Gazette
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