Crimea hero hailed by Lord Raglan and the press, but Queen Victoria was not amused
A SOLDIER who was taken prisoner during the Crimean War but escaped after killing his captors was denied a Victoria Cross after Queen Victoria personally intervened.
Pte Patrick Mcguire was being taken back to Russian lines when he seized a musket from a guard, shot one dead and overpowered the other before killing him with the butt of his own rifle. He then made it back to British lines, where he was given a hero’s reception.
Lord Raglan put Mcguire forward for the VC, the highest award for gallantry, but Victoria, who had to approve each award of the medal which bore her name, took exception to his deed at the siege of Sebastopol in 1854, saying it was of “very doubtful morality”.
She feared it would lead to other prisoners being executed to prevent them trying to “overpower” guards. So, Manchester-born Pte Mcguire, was instead awarded the lesser Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), and his group of four Crimea medals has now emerged for sale at auction in London.
In 1854, Lord Panmure, Victoria’s secretary of state for war, was told in no uncertain terms to remove Pte Mcguire’s name from the VC list.
A telegram sent on her behalf stated: “There is only one case which the Queen thinks had better be omitted, viz Private P Mcguire of the 33rd [Regiment of Foot]. His deed, although publicly praised and rewarded by Lord Raglan, was one of very doubtful morality... [it] may lead to the cruel and inhumane practice of never making prisoners, but always putting to death those who may be overpowered for fear of their rising over their captors.”
Had Pte Mcguire’s medal haul included a VC the lot, which goes under the hammer on Feb 28, would be worth 50 times its estimated value of £5,000.
A spokesman for auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb said: “Very few men have been refused the Victoria Cross due to the personal intervention of the monarch, and the circumstances of Patrick Mcguire’s story must surely make this a unique case.
“He was hailed as a hero by everyone from his comrades in the Crimea to the press back in Britain ... but Victoria thought differently.”