George Bell Chicken

George Bell Chicken VC (2 March 1833 – May 1860) was a British sailor and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was one of only five civilians to be awarded the VC.

Early life and Victoria Cross

Born on 2 March 1833 at Howden Pans, Wallsend, Northumberland, he became a Master Mariner at the early age of 20, and was 25 years old at the time of his action, and a civilian volunteer in the Indian Naval Brigade during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 27 September 1858 at Suhejnee (Sahejani), near Peroo, Bengal, Chicken was attached to a party of cavalry from the Bengal Military Police Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant Charles George Baker and accompanied by a detachment of the 3rd Sikh Irregular Cavalry commanded by Lieutenant William Edward Delves Broughton. They routed a force of about 1000 mutineers and in the pursuit which followed Chicken forged ahead and charged into the middle of about 20 of the enemy, killing five before he was knocked off his horse and badly wounded, sustaining severe wounds to his left wrist joint and left shoulder joint. He would have been cut to pieces if four of the troopers had not galloped up and rescued him.

Victoria Cross (pre-1918 naval version)

Lieutenant Baker wrote the following about the conduct of Chicken in a despatch to Captain Gordon, Field Adjutant, Lieutenant Colonel Turner's Field Force:

Mr. G. B. Chicken, Master, Indian Navy, of the Dehree Naval Brigade, and Lieutenant and Adjutant Nolan, of the 2nd Bengal Police Battalion, both Volunteers, doing duty with my troop, rendered me the greatest assistance and service. The former Officer, who, I regret to say, was most severely wounded, performed a very gallant act, in charging into the jungle, and attacking a body of some 20 Sepoys, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the now scattered pursuers. Surrounded on all sides, but fighting desperately, he would have been cut to pieces, had not Lance Duffadar Kala Khan, Duffadar Ukber Khan, and Trooper Shabaz Khan, of the 1st Bengal Police Cavalry, with Trooper Dhull Sing, of the 3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry, dashed into the crowd to his rescue, and routed it after killing several of the enemy.^[1]

A note was attached from Captain Rattray, commanding officer of the Bengal Military Police Battalion that included the following:

It is also my pleasing duty to bring forward the name of George Bell Chicken, Master, Indian Navy. This officer volunteered for service with my corps when it started from Dehree, with a determination as he expressed it, to win his medal, and nobly has he earned it; he, as Lieutenant Baker writes, charged into the middle of a considerable number of the enemy, and he succeeded in killing five before he was cut down himself. I consider this officer as well worthy the consideration of Government.^[2]

This note was forwarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Turner, Commander of the Troops on the Grand Trunk Road, who attached the following about Mr. Chicken:

I beg most respectfully and warmly to request, that the Brigadier-General will be pleased to bring to the notice of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, the judgement and gallantry of Lieutenant Baker, who on all former occasions has shown a marked zeal and intelligence, and the officers named by him, particularly Mr. Chicken, Master, Indian Naval Brigade, who was severely wounded^[3]

When this note reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India, Lord Clyde, the following was included in a note sent to the Governor-General Lord Canning:

I have the honour to request, on the part of his lordship, that you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right Honourable the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit performed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium, on account both of conception and execution. His lordship is of opinion that the Victoria Cross should be awarded to Lieutenant Baker, and to Mr. Chicken, of the Indian Navy, and he will take immediate measures for the execution of his intention in this respect.^[4]

His citation in the London Gazette reads:

Indian Naval Brigade.

For great gallantry on the 27th September, 1858, at Suhejnee, near Peroo, in having charged into the middle of a considerable number of the rebels, who were preparing to rally and open fire upon the scattered pursuers. They were surrounded on all sides, but, fighting desperately, Mr. Chicken succeeded in killing five before he was cut. down himself. He would have been cut to pieces, had not some of the men of the 1st Bengal Police and 3rd Seikh Irregular Cavalry, dashed into the crowd to his rescue/and routed it, after killing several of the Enemy.^[5]

Further information

He was one of only five civilians to be awarded the VC. His VC is described as "the only Naval VC to be won on horse-back".

Chicken was lost at sea in May 1860 when his schooner Emily was reportedly lost with all hands in the Bay of Bengal.

In memory, a street was named 'Chicken Road' in Wallsend, Tyne & Wear.

The medal

The VC was sent to his father, a master mariner of Shadwell, on 4 March 1862. The VC and Mutiny Medal came up for sale in Canada in 1997. The auctioneer was Bud Haynes of Alberta and the price was $C95,000. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum, London.

References

External links

• George Bell Chicken, V.C. (1833–1860) (extremely detailed biography & research information)
• Find-A-Grave profile for George Bell Chicken
• Supplement to the London Gazette, January 31st 1859 (Casualty Roll)