Colour-Sergeant
JOHN LUCAS
40th Regiment (South Lancashire Regiment)
Huirangi Pa - 18 March, 1861
Colour-Sergeant Lucas was born at Clashganny, County Carlow, Ireland, in 1826, and was approximately 34 years old, and a Colour-Sergeant in the 40th Regiment (later The South Lancashire Regiment - The Prince of Wales's Volunteers), British Army during the Taranaki Maori War, New Zealand, when the action for which he was awarded The Victoria Cross took place.
The citation from the London Gazette dated 19 July 1861 reads:
"On the 18th of March, 1861, Colour-Serjeant Lucas acted as Serjeant of a party of the 40th Regiment, employed as skirmishers to the right of No. 7, Redoubt, and close to the Huirangi Bush, facing the left of the positions occupied by the natives. At about 4 o'clock P.M., a very heavy and well-directed fire was suddenly opened upon them from the Bush, and the high ground on the left. Three men being wounded simultaneously, two of them mortally, assistance was called for to carry them to the rear; a file was immediately sent, but had scarcely arrived, when one of them fell, and Lieutenant Rees was wounded at the same time. Colour-Serjeant Lucas, under a very heavy fire from the rebels, who were not more than thirty yards distant, immediately ran up to the assistance of this Officer, and sent one man with him to the rear. He then took charge of the arms belonging to the killed and wounded men, and maintained has position until the arrival of supports under Lieutenants Gibson and Whelan."
Colour-Sergeant Lucas later achieved the rank of Sergeant-Major.
He died at Dublin, Ireland, on 4 March 1892, and is buried at St James Churchyard, Dublin, Ireland
His Victoria Cross is held at the Lancashire Infantry Museum, Preston, Lancashire, England.