| On 5 November 1854 at the Battle of Inkerman, Crimea, Private McDermond saved the life of Colonel Haly, 17th Foot, who was lying wounded on the ground surrounded by the enemy. Private McDermond rushed to the rescue and killed the Russian who had wounded the colonel. His award was posted in the London Gazzette on 24 February, 1857and he was presented with the V.C. by Major-General the Honorable Sir James Yorke Scarlett, KCB on the Parade Ground at Southsea, Hants on 12 March, 1858. Another source states that the award was made while the 47th was in Malta. McDermond died on 22 July, 1866 in Glasgow, Scotland and rests in an unmarked grave at Woodside Cemetery, Paisley, Scotland. In this photograph McDermond is wearing a three clasp Crimean War Campaign Medal, the Victoria Cross and the French Médaille Militairè. This photo was taken after his promotion to corporal. McDermond attested with the 47th Regiment of Foot on 23 October, 1846 at Glasgow. His discharge papers give some interesting details to his service including his being wounded in the left hand by grapeshot during the Battle of Alma on 20 September, 1854. It also states that McDermond served overseas on the Ionian Isles for 2 years, Malta for 2 years, 7 months, Turkey for 5 months, the Crimea for 8 months, Gibraltar for 3 months and lastly Canada for 10 months. His service with the colours totaled 15 years, 221 days. At the time of his discharge his was shown as being 33 years, 8 months old, 5 feet 8 inches tall with blue eyes, a fresh complexion and sandy hair. His occupations was that of labourer. It was while on shipboard transit to Canada that the injury occurred that led to him being invalided out of the army. His papers state in part: "Disability. Inflammation of the right ankle joint consequence of a strain received on duty while on board ship in passage to Canada about the 1st July, 1861..." The apparent dirt on this photograph was actually wear on the glass plate original that was reproduced when the CDV copy was made many years later. This Carte de Visite was copied from a c. 1858 glass plate (Daguerreotype or Ambrotype) original sometime in the 1880's. Carte de Visite Cleer S. Alger - Photographer/Copiest Diss, Norfolk, England Glass Plate Original c. 1858 CDV Copy c. 1880's |