The Thomas Duffy, whose impressive headstone can be seen left, was a boat owner and corn merchant living at 2 and 3 Royal Canal Harbour and 76 Dorset Street Upper, Dublin. This is confirmed by entries in the 'Ireland, City and Regional Directories, 1792 - 1949 for Thomas Esq, Duffy' for the years 1855, 1856, 1858, the period in which Thomas Duffy VC was earning his Victoria Cross in India.

Thomas Duffy VC attested into the East India Company ( Army ), 1st Madras Fusiliers, on the 16 - 18 January 1841 and embarked on the ship 'Justina' for passage to India on the 21 April 1841, aged 18 years and 2 months, making his date of birth as 1823 / 1824 in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

Further documentation reveals that Thomas Duffy VC was discharged on pension on the 15 May 1861, in Athlone and states specifically that his date of death as being the 23 December 1868, aged 45 / 46 years old, in Athlone, Co Westmeath.

[ London Gazette, 18 June 1858 ], Moti Mahal, Lucknow, Indian Mutiny, 26 September 1857, Private Thomas Duffy, 1st Madras ( European ) Fusiliers

For his cool intrepidity and daring skill, whereby a 24-pounder gun was saved from falling into the hands of the enemy.

( Extract from Divisional Orders of Major-General Sir James Outram GCB, dated 16th October 1857 )

Thomas Duffy was invested with his Victoria Cross by Lieutenant-General Marcus Beresford at Mysore, India, some time in 1859.

Thomas Duffy's Victoria Cross is held by the National Army Museum in London. Interestingly, there is no date engraved on the reverse of the Cross