The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-28 00:00:00

VICTORIA CROSS

(From, the London Gazette of last Evening.)
WAR-OFFICE, APRIL 24.
The Queen has been graciously pleased to signify her
intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross
on the under-mentioned officers,non-commis=ioned officers,
and men of her Majesty's and of the East India Company'e
armies, who have been recommended to her Majesty for
that decoration, in accordance with the rules laid down in
her Majesty's warrant instituting e s
thame, on account of
acts of bravery performed by them in India, as recorded
against their several names, viz. :
Bengal Artillery.--Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tombs.,
C. 8., and Lieutenant James Hills. For very gallant con-
duct on the part of Lieutenant Hills before Delhi, in de-
fending the position assigned to him in case of alarm, and
for noble behaviour on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel
Tombs in twice corning to his subaltern's rescue, and on
each occasion killing his man. (See despatch of Lieu.-
Colonel Mackenzie, commanding Ist Brigade Horse Artil-
lery, dated Camp, near Delhi, 10th July, 1857, published
in the Supplement to the London Gazette of the 16th Jan.,
1858.)
24th Bombay Native Infantry—Lieut. William Alex.
Kerr on the breaking out of a mutiny in the 27th Bombay
Native Infantry in July, 1857, a party of the mutineers
took up a position in the stronghold, or par, near the
town of Kolapore, and defended themselves to extremity.
" Lieutenant Kerr, of the Southern, Mahratta Irregular
Horse, took a prominent share of the attack on the posi-
tion, and. at the moment when its capture was of
great public importance, he made a dash at one of
the gateways, with some dismounted horsemen, and forced
an entrance by breaking down the gate. The attack was
completely successful, and the defenders were either killed,
wounded, or captured. a result that may with perfect
justice be athibuted to Lieutenant Kerr's dashing and de-
voted bravery." (Letter from the Political Superintendent
at-Kolapore, to tbe Adjutant-General of the Army, dated
10th September, 1851.)
Bengal Sappers and Minera—Sergeant John Smith, for
conspicuous gallantry. in conjanetion with Lieutenants
Home and Salkeld, in the performance of the desperate
duty of blowing in the Cashmere Gate of the fortress of
Delfrl.4a—broad- deylighti nridor, a_ heavy and destructive
fire of musketry, on the morning
,off theTarseptember,
1857, preparatory to the assault.— (General Order of Major
General Sir Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.B. dated Head
Quarters, Delhi City, September 21, 1857.
52nd Regiment— Bugler Robert Hawthorne, who ac-
companied the explosion party, not only performed the
dangerous duty on: which he was employed, but previously
attached himself to Lieut. Salkeld of the Engineers, when
dangerously wounded, bound up his wounds under a heavy
musketry fire, and had him removed without further in-
j ury.—(General Order of Major-General Sir Archdale Wil-
, son, Bart., K.C.8., dated Head Quarters, Delhi City,
September 2 , 1857.)
52d Regiment.—" Lanee-CorPoral Henry Smith most
gallantly carried away a wounded comrade under a heavy
fire of grape and musketry on the Chaundee Chouc , ika
14th
the
city of Delhi, on the morning of the assault on the
September, 1857. (General Order of Major-General Sir
Archdale Wilson, Bart., K.C.8., dated Head Quarters,
Delhi City, Sept 21, 1857.)
Bengal Horse Artillery—Sergeant Bernard Diamond,
and Gunner Richard Fitz Gerald, for an act of valour per-
formed in action against the rebels and mutineers at
Boolundshur, on the 28th September, 1857,
when these
two soldiers evinced the most determined bravery in work-
ing their gun under a heavy fire of musketry, wherebyothr man
they cleared the road of the enemy, after every
belonging to it had been either killed or disabled by
wounds. (Despatch of Major Turner, Bengal Horse Artil-
lery, dated Boolundshur, 2d Ootober, 1857.)