Background
He was born at the Rectory in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, England, educated at King"s College School, London, and is buried in the Old Delhi Military Cemetery, Delhi, India.
He was born at the Rectory in Fontmell Magna, Dorset, England, educated at King"s College School, London, and is buried in the Old Delhi Military Cemetery, Delhi, India.
King"s College School.
He was the first person to be awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. Salkeld was 26 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Engineers, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he together with Duncan Charles Home was awarded the Venture capital:
He was killed in action at Delhi on 10 October 1857.
Lieutenants Duncan Charles Homeand Philip Salkeld, Bengal Engineers, upon whom the Victoria Cross was provisionally conferred by Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, Baronet., Knight Commander of the Bath, for their conspicuous bravery in the performance of the desperate duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of tho Fortress of Delhi, in broad daylight, under a heavy fire of musketry, on the morning of the 14th September, 1857, preparatory to the assault, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for confirmation in that distinction, had they survived. Salkeld"s companion at King"s College School, Robert Haydon Shebbeare also received the Victoria Cross on the same day for his action in the fourth column attacking Delhi at the Kabul Gate.
