enemy, he sailed back home from China on the SS Emau to see his family again. When the ship arrived, his family were all waiting at the quayside to welcome the hero home; only to be told that he had died en route from an illness, probably malaria, and had been buried at sea in the East China Sea. Robert Shebbeare's descendants include Lieutenant Colonel Robert A Shebbeare, and his great great nephew Sir Tom Shebbeare, KCVO. References Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999) The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997) 1827 births 1860 deaths People educated at King's College School, London British recipients of the Victoria Cross British East India Company Army officers Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross British Indian Army officers Burials at sea British military personnel of the Second Opium War People from Clapham