Philip Salkeld, Shebbeare's fellow schoolboy at King's College School, was also awarded the Victoria Cross for action on the same day, for his role in the attack on Delhi's Kashmir Gate.

Robert Shebbeare left his middle-class suburban home near London in 1844 at the age of seventeen as a subaltern cadet in the 60th Bengal Native Infantry to make his future in India.

With fellow officers he managed to escape to Delhi, where he was attached to the Guides and took part in most of the action during the long hot summer of 1857, during which he was wounded six times.

Shebbeare was 30 years old, and a lieutenant in the 60th Bengal Native Infantry, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: For distinguished gallantry at the head of the Guides with the 4th column of assault at Delhi, on the 14th of September, 1857, when, after twice charging beneath the wall of the loopholed Serai, it was found impossible, owing to the murderous fire, to attain the breach.

[2] At the age of 33, after 16 years away from England, having risen from subaltern cadet to captain, having fought in two wars, and having won the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, he sailed back home from China on the SS Emau to see his family again.