VC Action: Thomas Arthur, real name Thomas McArthur, (1835 - 2 March 1902) was approximately 20 years old, and a gunner and driver in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
It was 7 June 1855 and Thomas Arthur was in charge of the magazine in one of the left advanced batteries of the right attack in an advanced position at Sebastopol. The British were attacking the Russians in an endeavour to capture a place known as the Quarries. Thomas Arthur was in charge of the ammunition magazine but his deeds went well beyond that call of duty. The fighting was intense and he realised that infantry of the 7th Fusiliers were short of ammunition. Despite having to cross open ground, under fire from the enemy, he made repeated runs carrying supplies of ammunition. Eleven days later, on the 18 June 1855 he volunteered to lead a party to spike the guns of the Russian artillery who were positioned at the Redan, a fortified gun position. On top of this, there were numerous times when he left the trenches to bring in wounded officers and men.
He later fought in the China War in 1860 and was awarded the Medaille Militaire by the French.
Thomas McArthur became a Chelsea Pensioner (VC) and he died on 2nd March 1902.
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