George Gardiner VC

COLOUR-SERGEANT GEORGE GARDINER VCDCM

George Gardiner was born at Warrenpoint, County Down, in 1821.

He enlisted in the 57th (later the Middlesex) Regiment, which was based in Ireland from 1818-31; and was posted to Lifford barracks in 1846.

George married Elizabeth Courtney in Dublin in 1848. Their eldest son, George, was born a year later, in 1849.

Sergeant Gardiner was discharged from the Regiment in 1861 and re-posted, as Sergeant Major, to the permanent staff of the Prince of Wales Own Donegal Militia, based at Lifford.

He was about 34 years old during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:

CITATION

On the 22nd March, 1855, at Sebastopol, Crimea, Sergeant Gardiner acted with great gallantry upon the occasion of a sortie by the enemy, in having rallied the covering parties which had been driven in by the Russians, thus regaining the trenches.

On the 18th June, during the attack on the Redan, he himself remained and encouraged others to remain in the holes made by the explosions of the shells, and whence they were able to keep up a continuous fire until their ammunition was exhausted, and the enemy cleared away from the parapet.

Sergeant Gardiner later achieved the rank of Colour-Sergeant.

He died at Lifford, County Donegal, in 1891, and is buried at Clonleigh parish Churchyard.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires), Dover Castle.