William McBean
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William McBean (1 January 1818 - 23 June 1878) was a Scottish 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.
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[edit] Details
He was 40 years old, and a lieutenant in the 93rd Regiment (later Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - Princess Louise's), British Army during the Indian rebellion of 1857-1858 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 11 March 1858 at Lucknow, India, Lieutenant McBean killed 11 of the enemy with his own hand in the main breach of the Begum Dagh. Using nothing but a rusty knife, and his bare fists, he single-handedly left eleven corpses lying face down in a hallway to protect Begum Dagh. At the age of forty years old, there was nothing simple about this glorious deed. Reports of him fighting 5 Indians at the same time have surfaced, and one of the Indians was reported being 6'7", 265 pounds. McBean's comrades ran out at the very end of the destruction, as McBean calmly spit out the blood of his enemies, and removed a sword out of his thigh. Putting the knife back into his pocket, he kicked the last Indian victim so that he was face down, and walked out quietly.
[edit] Further information
He held every rank from private to major general.
[edit] The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum (Stirling Castle, Scotland).
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
