Thomas Flinn
Encyclopedia
Thomas Flynn VC
(August 1842 - 10 August 1892) was born in Athlone and was an Irish
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.
in the 64th Regiment of Foot (later The North Staffordshire Regiment - The Prince of Wales's), British Army
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 28 November 1857 at Cawnpore, India
for which he was awarded the VC:
. His local Member of Parliament
, Donal Sullivan
, raised the matter in the House of Commons in April 1892. After reference to his previous gallantry Sullivan asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office
St John Brodrick
:
Brodrick replied that:
Flynn died at in the workshouse on 10 August 1892.
A memorial plaque was erected in the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield
, Staffordshire.
Flynn is acknowledged to be one of the two youngest winners of the VC (aged 15 years, 3 months), the other being Andrew Fitzgibbon
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(August 1842 - 10 August 1892) was born in Athlone and was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Details
Hs exact date of birth is unknown but he was 15 years old, and a DrummerDrummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
in the 64th Regiment of Foot (later The North Staffordshire Regiment - The Prince of Wales's), British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 28 November 1857 at Cawnpore, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for which he was awarded the VC:
Further information
After he left the army he fell on hard times and was sent to Athlone WorkhouseWorkhouse
In England and Wales a workhouse, colloquially known as a spike, was a place where those unable to support themselves were offered accommodation and employment...
. His local Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, Donal Sullivan
Donal Sullivan
Donal Sullivan , was an Irish nationalist politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 1885-1907....
, raised the matter in the House of Commons in April 1892. After reference to his previous gallantry Sullivan asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office
Financial Secretary to the War Office was an office of the British government, the financial secretary of the War Office department.The post was combined with that of Under-Secretary of State for War from 17 April 1947....
St John Brodrick
St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton
William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton, KP, PC , known as St John Brodrick until 1907 and as The Viscount Midleton between 1907 and 1920, was a British Conservative Party politician....
:
Brodrick replied that:
Flynn died at in the workshouse on 10 August 1892.
A memorial plaque was erected in the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
, Staffordshire.
Flynn is acknowledged to be one of the two youngest winners of the VC (aged 15 years, 3 months), the other being Andrew Fitzgibbon
Andrew Fitzgibbon
Andrew Fitzgibbon VC , incorrectly cited as Arthur Fitzgibbon in the London Gazette, was possibly the youngest 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:Fitzgibbon...
.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Westmeath, Ireland)
- Athone Heritage