{{other people|Francis Fitzpatrick}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Irish English|date=November 2019}} {{short description|Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross}} {{Infobox military person | name = Francis Fitzpatrick | image = Francis_Fitzpatrick_VC.jpg | birth_date = 1859 | death_date = 10 July 1933 (aged c74) | birth_place = Tullycorbet, County Monaghan | death_place = Glasgow, Scotland | burial_place = Saint Kentigerns Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland | burial_label = | burial_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} --> | nickname = | birth_name = | allegiance = {{UK}} | branch = 23px British Army | service_years = | rank = Private | service_number = | unit = 94th Regiment of Foot | commands = | battles = Campaign against Sekukuni | battles_label = Wars | awards = Victoria Cross | relations = | other_work = | signature = }} '''Francis Fitzpatrick''' VC (born in Tullycorbet, County Monaghan in 1859 &ndash; 10 July 1933) was an Irish 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.

==Military career== He was about 20 years old, and a Private in the 94th Regiment of Foot (later The Connaught Rangers), British Army during the campaign against Sekukuni when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 November 1879 during an attack on Sekukuni's Town, South Africa, Private Fitzpatrick and another private (Thomas Flawn) with six men of the Native Contingent, were with a lieutenant of the 1st Dragoon Guards when he was badly wounded. The natives carried the wounded officer at first, but when the party was pursued by about 30 of the enemy they deserted and the lieutenant would have been killed but for the gallantry of the two privates - one carrying him and the other covering the retreat and firing on the enemy.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=24814 |date=24 February 1880 |page=832}}</ref>

==Later life== Fitzpatrick died in Glasgow, Scotland, on 10 July 1933. He was buried at St Kentigern's Cemetery, Glasgow<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050104200733/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/glasgow.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Glasgow)''</ref>

==The medal==

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum ''(Chelsea, England)''.

==References== {{Reflist}} '''Listed in order of publication year ''' *''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' (1981, 1988 and 1997) *{{cite journal|first=Brian D. H.|last=Clarke|title=A register of awards to Irish-born officers and men|journal=The Irish Sword|volume=XVI|issue=64|pages=185–287|year=1986}} *''Ireland's VCs'' (Dept of Economic Development, 1995) *''Monuments to Courage'' (David Harvey, 1999) *''Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross'' (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

==External links== *[http://www.spink.com/auctions/pdf/9033.pdf Spink auction of his medals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725041121/http://www.spink.com/auctions/pdf/9033.pdf |date=25 July 2011 }} {{Portal|Biography}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20050104200733/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/glasgow.htm Location of grave and VC medal] ''(Glasgow)''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzpatrick, Francis}} Category:1859 births Category:1933 deaths Category:Military personnel from County Monaghan Category:Irish recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:Connaught Rangers soldiers Category:People from County Monaghan Category:People of the Sekukuni Campaign Category:Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders soldiers Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross