Samuel Hill Lawrence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Hill Lawrence
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| Born | 22 January 1831 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 17 June 1868 (aged 37) Montevideo, Uruguay |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1847 - 1865 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | 32nd Regiment of Foot 25th Regiment of Foot 8th Hussars 11th Hussars |
| Battles/wars | Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Thomas Cadell VC (cousin) |
Major Samuel Hill Lawrence VC (born January 22, 1831 – died June 17, 1868) was a brave Irish soldier from Cork. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage a soldier can get in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth forces. It's given for amazing bravery when facing the enemy.
Contents
About Samuel Hill Lawrence
His Family Background
Samuel's father, also named Samuel Hill, was a soldier too. He served in the 32nd Regiment of Foot and was hurt in a battle called Quatre Bras. This battle happened just before the famous Battle of Waterloo.
The Lawrence family was part of a group of important Protestant families in Ireland at the time. Samuel's mother, Margaret Macdonald, came from Scotland. Samuel was also the cousin of another brave soldier, Lieutenant Thomas Cadell, who also received the Victoria Cross.
Acts of Bravery
Samuel Hill Lawrence was 26 years old when he showed incredible bravery during the Indian Mutiny. He was a lieutenant in the 32nd Regiment of Foot, which later became The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was even promoted to captain during this time.
His brave actions happened during the Siege of Lucknow in India. This was a very difficult time when soldiers were trapped and surrounded by the enemy.
First Act of Bravery: July 7, 1857
On July 7, 1857, Samuel Lawrence took part in a "sortie." A sortie is a sudden attack made by soldiers who are trapped inside a fort or city. Their goal was to check a house where the enemy was hiding. They thought the enemy might be digging a tunnel from there to attack them.
Major Wilson, another officer, saw Samuel Lawrence's bravery. He reported that Samuel was the first person to climb a ladder and enter the house through a window. As he went in, an enemy soldier knocked his pistol out of his hand.
Second Act of Bravery: September 26, 1857
Samuel Lawrence showed great courage again on September 26, 1857. During another sortie, he charged forward with just two of his men. They went ahead of their company and managed to capture a 9-pounder gun, which is a type of cannon.
Because of these two acts of bravery, Samuel Lawrence was recommended for the Victoria Cross. He was even suggested to receive a "bar" to his Victoria Cross, which means earning the award more than once. However, he didn't receive the bar because the rules at the time said you could only get a bar if you had already received the VC before the second brave act.
Later Life and Medal
After these events, Samuel Lawrence continued his military career. He joined the 25th Regiment of Foot, then the 8th Hussars, and finally the 11th Hussars. He ended his time in the army in 1865 with the rank of major.
Samuel Hill Lawrence died on June 17, 1868, at the age of 37. He passed away in Uruguay, South America. His exact burial place is not known, even after much searching.
His Victoria Cross medal is now on display at the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Museum in Bodmin, Cornwall. His other medals are also there. They were given to the museum by a member of the Richards family, which was the family his only surviving sister married into.
