I must not fail to mention the excellent conduct of a Sowar of the 4th Irregular Cavalry, and two men of the 9th Lancers, Privates Thomas Hancock and John Purcell, who, when my horse was shot down, remained by me throughout.

Extract of a letter from Brigadier J. H. Grant, C.B., Commanding Cavalry Brigade of the Field Force, to the Deputy Assistant-Adjutant General of Division.

to Major H. W. Norman, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army, on 10 January 1858, Hope writes:I had the sincere gratification of naming two privates of the 9th Lancers, who had displayed signal gallantry in the fight – Privates Thomas Hancock, who lost an arm on the occasion, and John Purcell, who had his horse shot under him, and was, I regret to say, afterwards killed at the assault of Delhi.

Sir Henry Barnard was pleased to recommend that the Victoria Cross should be conferred on both.

He died in Westminster Workhouse, 12 March 1871, and was buried in a common (unmarked) grave in Brompton Cemetery.