Bambrick was a son of the Army - his father, at least one uncle (after whom he was named), and his older brother John all served with the 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own).

His older brother Private John Thomas Bambrick (1832–1893) fought with the 11th Hussars (PAO) during the famous Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854 during the Crimean War.

He and his company commander Lieutenant Cromer Ashburnham (1831–1917) were cornered and Bambrick was awarded the Victoria Cross for his acts, recorded in the London Gazette as: For conspicuous bravery at Bareilly, on the 6th of May, 1858, when in a Serai, he was attacked by three Ghazees, one of whom he cut down.

[3]This short citation gives little idea of the desperate hand-to-hand fighting Bambrick would have been involved in in the narrow streets and alleys of Bareilly.

He had arrived at Aldershot in November 1863, just prior to being discharged from the Army and within 24 hours found himself in trouble again - this time with the civilian authorities.

There he and Charlotte Johnson were indicted for violently assaulting Henry Milner Russell (1828–1894), and stealing from his person four medals in Aldershot on 15 November 1863.

[7] Bambrick's version of the incident was that he had been passing the lodging-house in Pickford Street where Russell resided and had gone to the assistance of a prostitute calling "Murder!"

It appeared that the prisoners were standing at the door of a lodging house in Pickford Street, Aldershot, at night, on November 15.

They then went into Russell's room, who lodged in the house, and Russell said he would stand some beer, and he was in the act of giving the female prisoner some money to get the beer when Bambrick seized him by the throat, threw him on the bed, and tore from his breast four silver medals, one for the Punjab, one for the Sutlej, and one for the Crimea.

He had a pension of £10 a year, and, what was dearer to a soldier than any other medal, a Victoria Cross, but he would tell the jury the real facts.

Had it not been for your character, I should have put in force the provisions of a recent statute and subjected you to personal castigation, but, as it, is I deal with your case with great regret.

[10] In reality, Russell's account of what had happened in Aldershot seems unlikely; his pride had probably been hurt at being soundly beaten by Bambrick and as a married man[7] he would not have been keen to explain either to his wife or his commanding officer that he had lost his medals while beating a prostitute in his room.

[5] The Aldershot Military Gazette of 26 September 1863 recorded that: On Thursday a most determined attempt of suicide was made by a soldier named Valentine Bambrick, of the 87th Royal Irish Fusiliers, who, for some acts of gallantry was decorated with a Victoria Cross.

It appears that in the course of the previous night (Wednesday), Bambrick was observed with a female in his room; was immediately apprehended, and conveyed to the guard-room.

At about twelve o'clock the prisoner was being removed for the purpose of being brought before the commanding-officer, when seeing razor lying conveniently picked it up, and without the slightest hesitation drew it across his throat, inflicting a fearful gash.

The female, who was perhaps the cause of his committing the rash act, came with him from Ireland, and appears (as does the unfortunate fellow himself) very anxious for an interview.

[12] Valentine Bambrick committed suicide by hanging, using his pocket handkerchief from the handle of the ventilator behind the cell door in Pentonville Prison, London on 1 April 1864.

I pray to Him to grant you consolation in your hour of affliction, for I know that, notwithstanding all my faults, that love which you always manifested towards me is not withheld yet, and therefore the news of my unfortunate fate will make time sorrowful.

P.S.-Before I die I protest solemnly my entire innocence of the charge for which I was punished, all but the assault, and that was done under the circumstances before mentioned to you in my letter.

[5][15] Bambrick was buried in an unmarked grave in St Pancras and Islington Cemetery which could not be located, but a memorial plaque to him was placed in 2002.