Sea Adventure: Gunner Harding's VC (colour litho)

Gunner Harding's VC. During the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882, an Egyptian spherical shell passed through the side of HMS Alexandra and rested on the crowded main deck, with its old-fashioned fuse spluttering. Although it was likely to burst at any moment, and would have done terrible execution, Gunner Israel Harding calmly picked it up and, running to a big tub of water near by, plunged it in and held it under until the fuse was extinguished. He saved many lives, and received the only Victoria Cross awarded for this engagement. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Sea Adventure, issued by Hignett Brothers in 1939.