William George Drummond Stewart William George Drummond Stewart VC ( February 1831 – 19 October 1868 ) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces . " " Captain Stewart was an officer of remarkable coolness in action , nothing ever appearing to disturb his equanimity in the very slightest degree " . " . Crimean War . George ( as he was known ) Stewart was the son of Captain Sir William Drummond Stewart , 19th Laird of Grantully and 7th Baronet of Murthly , and his wife Maria Christina ( " née " Battersby ) . He was born in February 1831 in Grandtully , Perthshire . He entered the Army on 2 June 1847 as an Ensign in the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders . After four years home service , he attained his promotion as Lieutenant , becoming a Captain two years later on 29 December 1854 . In February 1854 , on the outbreak of war with Russia , the 93rd Highlanders embarked for the Crimea , where they were destined to see much fighting and to win great renown . Stewart was present at the Battle of Alma on 20 September that year , when the 93rd , as part of the Highland Brigade , 1st Division , stormed the Great Russian Battery on the Alma Heights with the other Highland Regiments and Foot Guards ( 93rd losses : 1 officer , 54 men ) . He was also present at the Battle of Balaklava a month later on 25 October , where the 93rd alone formed the now famous ' Thin Red Line ' which , unsupported , repulsed the charge of a large body of the enemy ’ s cavalry , and thereby prevented a direct assault on the port of Balaklava . He also served in the Siege of Sevastopol through the winter of 1854 / 5 . He was wounded in the trenches above the besieged port , and remained in the Crimea until July 1856 , when his regiment returned to England . For his services in the Campaign , Stewart received the Crimean Medal with clasp for Alma , Balaclava and Sebastopol , the Turkish Medal and the Order of the Medjidie ( 5th class ) . Indian Mutiny . The following summer found the 93rd on its way to India , where the laurels gained in the Crimea were to be more than doubled . The regiment reached Calcutta in September 1857 , just in time to join Sir Colin Campbell ' s advance to relieve the Siege of Lucknow . The heroic achievements of Sir Colin ’ s few forces are now matters of history , foremost among them stand the operations of 16 November : the Capture of the " Secunderabagh " and the " Shah Najaf " , deeds with which the name of the 93rd will ever be associated . While the artillery was being brought to bear on the " Sikandarabagh " , Capt . Stewart , with some Highlanders and a few of the 53rd Regiment of Foot , advanced towards two of the enemy ’ s guns , which were maintaining a heavy flanking fire and which covered the approach to the barracks , a large cross - shaped building surrounded by outhouses . Stewart captured the guns in a most gallant manner , and by this means his force was able to gain possession of the barracks . Field Marshal The Lord Roberts described the action as " serviceable as it was heroic , for it silenced the fire most destructive to the attacking force " . The possession of this building secured the left of the British advance , and greatly facilitated the ultimate withdrawal of the garrison of Lucknow . “ Stewart , perceiving the annoyance which these two guns were causing , and the injury that they might still cause , called upon his company ( No . 2 ) , and at the head of it , increased in weight and numbers by a few men of the other companies , and of the 53rd , who had joined our men , dashed forward in the most gallant style , captured the guns at the point of the bayonet , turned the guns on the flying rebels , and then , pushing forward at the double , while Captain Cornwall , with his company ( No . 3 ) and the men of other companies , followed in support , assaulted the large pile of building called the barracks , situated in the left front of the Sikanderbagh , drove the enemy out , and established themselves in it ” . Stewart was 26 years old , and a Captain in the 93rd ( Sutherland ) Highlanders when he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his above actions at Lucknow . He was gazetted on 24 December 1858 and his citation read : Six Victoria Crosses in all were bestowed on the 93rd Highlanders for their gallantry on 16 November , but Sir Colin Campbell decided , perhaps fearing that he might be accused of partiality , that only one of these should be given to the officers . Votes were taken and Capt . Stewart was chosen by his brother officers to receive the much prized honour . A total of 18 Victoria Crosses were awarded to British forces at Lucknow on 16 November 1857 , the largest number ever awarded in a single day . After the withdrawal of the Lucknow garrison , Sir Colin ’ s Army was hurried back to Cawnpore . Stewart took part in the great battle which ensued there on 6 December . His regiment was in the thick of the fighting , and two days later , it formed part of the force under Sir Hope Grant . It completed the destruction of the Gwalior rebels as they were attempting to cross the Ganges at Oude . After two months of minor operations , the 93rd fought its way in to Lucknow under Sir Colin Campbell , and distinguished itself as on the previous occasion . Stewart took part in the storming of the Mogum ’ s Palace on 11 March 1858 , and , with characteristic daring , led a small party beyond the building in pursuit of the mutineers . With Lucknow captured , the 93rd was sent into " Rohilkand " under Brigadier - General Walpole , helped to defeat the enemy at " Alaganj " , and fought under Sir Colin Campbell at Bareilly . There the regiment remained throughout the hot weather . In the following winter , it took part in the pacification of Oude , which was finally accomplished by the beginning of 1859 . For his services in this campaign , besides the Victoria Cross , Capt . Stewart received the mutiny medal with clasp for Lucknow . William Stewart was promoted Major but left the Army in 1860 . On 19 October 1868 , while at Hythe , Hampshire , Stewart was giving a demonstration of sword swallowing . His trick went fatally wrong and he died from internal injuries a week later , on 26 October . William Stewart predeceased his father .