1856Which of the 182 recipients that were awarded the Victoria Cross for their gallantry during the Indian Mutiny of 1857 is buried in Toronto, Ontario?
Private Denis Dempsey, a Victoria Cross recipient for his extraordinary bravery during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, is buried at Saint Michael's Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario. His fearless actions—carrying a powder bag through a burning village under heavy enemy fire at Lucknow and being the first to enter Jugdispore during intense conflict—earned him the Empire’s highest military honor. Born in County Wicklow, Ireland, Dempsey's military career spanned postings in India, South Africa, Japan, and beyond before he settled in Toronto, where he died in 1886 from congestive pneumonia. The 140th anniversary of his death in 2026 is a poignant reminder of both his legacy and the enduring ties between Canada, Ireland, and the history of British military service.
