As can be seen below, the before and after images, the marker stone had deteriorated badly over the years to a point where the stone was unstable and the text unreadable. The restoration work has been carried out by local Kent residents Steve Davies and Al Winstanley returning the headstone to its original state. The Shorncliffe Military Cemetery covers a huge area and is currently in a very unkempt state

[ London Gazette, 19 June 1860 ], Siege of Lucknow, Indian Mutiny, 2 October 1857, Private Patrick McHale, 5th Regiment ( Northumberland Fusiliers ).

For conspicuous bravery at Lucknow on the 2nd October 1857, when he was the first man at the capture of one of the guns at the Cawnpore Battery – and again, on the 22nd December 1857, when, by a bold rush, he was the first to take possession of one of the enemy’s guns, which had sent several rounds of grape through his company, which was skirmishing up to it.

On every occasion of attack, Private McHale has been the first to meet the foe, amongst whom he caused such consternation by the boldness of his rush, as to leave little work for those who followed to his support.

By his habitual coolness and daring, and sustained bravery in action, his name has become a household word for gallantry among his comrades.

Patrick McHale was invested with his Victoria Cross by Lady Hersey, at Fort William, India on the 24th December 1860.