Harry Prendergast

Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast
Prendergast in 1886
Born	15 October 1834 Madras, India
Died	24 July 1913 (aged 78) Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey
Buried at	Richmond Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Madras Army  British Army  British Indian Army
Years of service	1845–1881
Rank	General
Unit	Madras Engineers Royal Engineers
Battles/wars	Anglo-Persian War Indian Rebellion of 1857 Third Anglo-Burmese War Abyssinian War
Awards	Victoria Cross Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast, VC, GCB (15 October 1834 – 24 July 1913) was a 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, in imperial times, Commonwealth forces.

Prendergast was the son of Thomas and Caroline Lucy (née Dalrymple), He was educated at Cheam School and then Brighton College, and, in later years, he was President of their old boys' association. He was also educated at Addiscombe Military Seminary.

Prendergast was 23 years old and a lieutenant in the Madras Sappers, Madras Army during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

For conspicuous bravery on the 21st of November, 1857, at Mundisore, in saving the life of Lieutenant G. Dew, 14th Light Dragoons, at the risk of his own, by attempting to cut down a valaitee, who covered him (Lieutenant Dew) with his piece, from only a few paces to the rear. Lieutenant Prendergast was wounded in this affair by the discharge of the piece, and would probably have, been cut down, had not the rebel been killed by Major Orr. He also distinguished himself by his gallantry in the actions at Ratgurh and Betwa, when he was severely wounded. Major-General Sir Hugh Rose, in forwarding his recommendation of this Officer, states:

"Lieutenant Prendergast, Madras Engineers, was specially mentioned by Brigadier, now Sir Charles Stuart, for the gallant act at Mundisore, when he was severely wounded; secondly, he was specially mentioned by me when acting voluntarily as my Aide-de-Camp in the Action before besieging Ragurh, on the Beena river, for gallant conduct. His horse was killed on that occasion. Thirdly, at the Action of 'the Betwa', he again voluntarily acted as my Aide-de-Camp, and distinguished himself by his bravery in the charge, which I made with Captain Need's Troop, Her Majesty's 14th Light Dragoons, against the left of the so-called Peishwa's Army, under Tantia Topee. He was severely.wounded on that occasion."