Henry Hugh Clifford Major General Sir Henry Hugh Clifford VC KCMG CB ( 12 September 1826 – 12 April 1883 ) was an English 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 . Early life . Clifford was the third son of Hugh Charles Clifford , 7th Baron Clifford , who died in 1858 , by his marriage with Mary Lucy , only daughter of Thomas ( afterwards Cardinal ) Weld of Lulworth Castle , Dorsetshire . He was born on 12 September 1826 and received his first commission as a second lieutenant in The Rifle Brigade , on 7 August 1846 . He served in South Africa against the Gaikas under Sandili in the following year , and then against the Boers , until their submission at Weinberg on the Vaal river . On the outbreak of another Kaffir war in 1852 he again went to Africa , where he remained until November 1853 . Victoria Cross . He took part in the Crimean war , where he received the appointment of aide - de - camp to Sir George Brown , commanding the light division , and was present at Alma and Inkerman , and for his gallantry in the latter battle was decorated with the Victoria cross , by leading one of the charges , killing one of the enemy with his sword , disabling another and saving the life of a soldier ( 5 November 1854 ) . In May 1855 , he was appointed deputy assistant quartermaster - general , and remaining in the Crimea until the conclusion of the war was then promoted to the rank of brevet major , and received the medal and clasps for Alma , Inkerman , and Sebastopol , and from foreign governments the Legion of Honour and the 5th class of the Medjidie . Later career . On the outbreak of hostilities in China he sailed thither , and as assistant quartermaster - general was present at the operations between December 1857 and January 1858 which resulted in the capture of Canton . For his services he received the brevet of lieutenant - colonel , with the China medal and Canton clasp . On his return to England he commenced a long term of service on the staff ; he was assistant quartermaster - general at Aldershot 1860 – 4 , held a similar appointment at headquarters 1865 – 1868 , was aide - de - camp to the commander - in - chief 1870 – 3 , and assistant adjutant - general at headquarters 1873 – 5 . Early in 1879 Clifford was selected to proceed to South Africa to take charge of the communications of Lord Chelmsford between Durban and the forces in the field . His task was no light one , for great confusion prevailed at Durban , the port of disembarkation ; but by his great experience in staff duties , his knowledge of the requirements of the supply of an army , and , above all , by his familiarity with Kaffir warfare and his indefatigable nature , he very soon reduced everything to order , and his labours were fully acknowledged by Sir Garnet Wolseley . He was gazetted a C . B . 2 June 1869 , and a K . C . M . G . 19 Dec . 1879 , and was granted a pension of 100l . for distinguished services 7 Oct . 1874 . He was major - general of the eastern district of England from April to September 1882 . He died at Ugbrooke , near Chudleigh , Devonshire , 12 April 1883 . Family . He married , 21 March 1857 , Josephine Elizabeth , only child of Joseph Anstice of Madeley Wood , Shropshire , professor at King ' s College London . Their son was Sir Hugh Clifford .