Victoria Cross recipient

Born in Ireland on June 28, 1765, Teresa McGrath’s remarkable journey led her to Queensland, Australia, in 1886 at the age of 20 to join her brother and sister who had already emigrated.

Here, she became a nanny and nurse to Major Charles Des Voeux’s children and accompanied the family to India, where her heroic acts unfolded during the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi. Despite lacking military training, Teresa displayed immense bravery, caring for wounded Sikh soldiers amid flying bullets.

Recognising her valour, Queen Victoria awarded her the Royal Red Cross, an honour seldom granted to women at the time. After the battle, Teresa briefly returned to England but later married Drum Major George Lawrence of the Second Gordan Highlanders in Kohat, Pakistan, in 1907.

Sadly, her life was cut short when she succumbed to malarial fever in 1907, in Peshawar, Pakistan. Teresa McGrath was laid to rest in the Jamrud Road Cemetery, located within a Pakistani Air Force Base, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness, courage, and unwavering dedication to others.