Witness to History


This story is not (yet) about a direct relative but about someone who's part of my One-Name Study. 
George Bell Chicken was the last civilian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, not just a witness to a historical event but part of it.
George was born in Howden Pans, Northumberland in 1833, the first son of George and Elizabeth (nee Bell) Chicken. He followed in his father's footsteps to become a mariner but unlike his father wasn't content to stay in merchant shipping. For reasons which don't seem to be recorded he signed off his ship in Calcutta in 1855 and spent time in the "Country Merchant Service" sailing in the region of Singapore, Penang, Malacca etc. In a letter to his uncle in England he said that during this time he had lost money due to speculation and was therefore disgusted with the Merchant Service so he left it and went to the Government River Surveying Service where he worked until news of the massacre at Cawnpore reached Calcutta whereupon in his words "I laid down my sextant and entered the navy as Master on condition that I was to serve on those against the rebels." 
On 27th September 1858 the unit of which he was part received information that the enemy were camped about 18 miles away. George Bell was in charge of the guns, and saw them loaded onto the backs of elephants! A march across country brought them to the enemy. As the cavalry were about to head straight off to engage the enemy but the big guns had yet to be unloaded from the elephants George asked and received permission to go with the cavalry. The cavalry duly engaged with the enemy and succeeded in putting them to flight. George called on others to follow him and galloped after them, He was wounded in the shoulder but claimed to have killed seven of the mutineers. He was carried back from the field to be treated for his wound.
Following this action he was recommended for the VC for gallantry in a cavalry charge and as a result has the probably unique distinction of having won a Naval VC as a civilian on horseback.
Having recovered from his wounds he returned to Calcutta where it seems he returned to sea, now in the Indian Navy. He was in command of HM Schooner Emily when it sank in the Bay of Bengal near Sandheads and the entire crew perished. His VC hadn't arrived in time for him to hold it, which was perhaps just as well because it had been produced with the wrong details on it. Eventually a second medal was made and was presented to his father in England.

#52Ancestors


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