THE BOOK OF THE V.C.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR

HOW LORD ROBERTS WON THE V.C.

HE OVERTOOK THE PAIR JUST AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO SEEK REFUGE IN A VILLAGE, AND ENGAGED THEM BOTH AT ONCE.—Frontispiece.—[See p. 75.]

THE BOOK
OF THE
V.C.

A Record of the Deeds of Heroism for which the Victoria Cross has been bestowed, from its Institution in 1857, to the Present Time

COMPILED FROM OFFICIAL PAPERS AND
OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES

BY
A. L. HAYDON
AUTHOR OF “WITH PIZARRO THE CONQUISTADOR” ETC. ETC.

WITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW YORK: E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY
31 WEST TWENTY-THIRD STREET. 1907

TO MY SON
ARTHUR CECIL HILLYARD

(“MAC”)

CONTENTS.

CHAP.PAGE
I.THE ORIGIN OF THE VICTORIA CROSS AND THE FIRST PRESENTATION[1]
II.THE CRIMEA.—THE BATTLE OF THE ALMA[9]
III.THE CRIMEA.—IN THE BALACLAVA CHARGES[16]
IV.THE CRIMEA.—THE HEROES OF INKERMAN[27]
V.THE CRIMEA.—WITH THE SAPPERS AND MINERS.—IN TRENCH AND RIFLE-PIT[34]
VI.THE CRIMEAN CROSSES OF THE NAVY[45]
VII.PERSIA.—HOW THE SQUARE WAS BROKEN[57]
VIII.INDIA.—THE GALLANT NINE AT DELHI[61]
IX.INDIA.—WITH SABRE AND GUN AGAINST SEPOY[69]
X.INDIA.—THE BLOWING UP OF THE CASHMERE GATE[78]
XI.INDIA.—THE STORY OF KOLAPORE KERR[84]
XII.INDIA.—THE DEFENCE OF THE DHOOLIES[92]
XIII.INDIA.—THREE BRAVE CIVILIANS: MANGLES, McDONELL, AND “LUCKNOW” KAVANAGH[102]
XIV.INDIA.—SOME OTHER CROSSES OF THE MUTINY[112]
XV.IN THE SIXTIES.—CHINA, JAPAN, INDIA, WEST AFRICA, AND CANADA[124]
XVI.NEW ZEALAND.—FIGHTING THE MAORIS[133]
XVII.IN ASHANTI BUSH AND MALAY JUNGLE[142]
XVIII.HOW SOME AFGHAN CROSSES WERE WON[150]
XIX.MAIWAND.—A GUNNER’S STORY[161]
XX.ZULULAND.—THE DASH WITH THE COLOURS FROM ISANDHLANA[168]
XXI.ZULULAND.—HOW THEY HELD THE POST AT RORKE’S DRIFT[178]
XXII.SOME OTHER ZULU AND SOME OTHER BASUTO CROSSES[189]
XXIII.SOUTH AFRICA.—AGAINST BOERS AND MATABELE[198]
XXIV.IN EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN[207]
XXV.V.C. HEROES OF THE INDIAN FRONTIER[216]
XXVI.HOW SURGEON-CAPTAIN WHITCHURCH WON FAME[223]
XXVII.WHEN THE AFRIDIS WERE UP[229]
XXVIII.SOUTH AFRICA.—THE V.C.’S OF THE SECOND BOER WAR[239]
XXIX.SOMALILAND—NIGERIA—TIBET[253]
APPENDICES[263-294]
APPENDIX A. ROYAL WARRANTS[263]
” B. THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF THE V.C.[269]
” C. WARS AND CAMPAIGNS IN WHICH THE V.C. HAS BEEN WON, FROM 1854 TO 1904[272]
” D. COMPLETE ALPHABETICAL LIST OF RECIPIENTS OF THE V.C.[274]

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
HOW LORD ROBERTS WON THE V.C.[Frontispiece]
THE VICTORIA CROSS[3]
THE FIRST PRESENTATION OF THE V.C., IN HYDE PARK, JUNE 26, 1857[5]
“I GOT HIM TO STAND AT THE HORSE’S HEAD WHILST I LIFTED THE CAPTAIN OFF”[22]
THE ESCORT CAME SWINGING UP THE ROAD WITHOUT A SUSPICION OF DANGER[53]
McMANUS NOW RUSHED OUT, ACCOMPANIED BY PRIVATE JOHN RYAN … AND CARRIED IN CAPTAIN ARNOLD[98]
REINING IN HIS HORSE, HE TURNED TO CATCH VOSPER’S … AND HELPED THE ORDERLY TO REMOUNT[137]
WITH THE FLAG … FIRMLY GRIPPED IN HIS HAND, MELVILL SPURRED HIS HORSE FOR THE RIVER[173]
GRAVE OF MELVILL AND COGHILL[175]
THE COLONEL HAD TO RIDE BACK … AND, WHILE ASSEGAIS AND SHOTS SPED PAST HIM, CARRY OFF THE DISMOUNTED MAN UPON HIS HORSE[193]
PIPER FINDLATER … PROPPED HIMSELF UP AGAINST A BOULDER AND CONTINUED TO PLAY HIS PIPES[236]
THE GUNS WERE REACHED, BUT AT ONCE BOER SHELLS AND BULLETS BEGAN TO DROP THICKLY AROUND[242]

PREFACE

The celebration this year of the Jubilee of the Victoria Cross may be offered as sufficient excuse for the appearance of this volume. Such a notable event deserves to be fittingly commemorated, and it is in the hope that it will be accepted as a standard work on the subject that the present book is put forth. My original intention of telling the stories of all the V.C. exploits was found to be impracticable within the limit of space prescribed. A selection, therefore, has been made, and these instances—a very large number—have been narrated more or less at length. The history of the Decoration has been brought right up to date.

In such a book as this, accuracy is of course of the first importance, and in my account of the deeds that won the Cross I have been at considerable pains to verify the smallest particulars. To this end the London Gazette and other authentic sources have been consulted, while in many cases the information has been obtained from the V.C. men themselves. It is possible, however, that errors have crept in despite the care exercised, and I shall be grateful if any reader who detects a misstatement will notify me of the fact, that the correction may be made in a future edition.

A. L. H.

London, June 1906.

Muscovite metal makes this English Cross,

Won in a rain of blood and wreath of flame;

The guns that thundered for their brave lives’ loss

Are worn hence, for their fame!

…

The men of all the army and the fleet,

The very bravest of the very brave,

Linesman and Lord—these fought with equal feet

Firm-planted on the grave.

The men who, setting light their blood and breath,

So they might win a victor’s haught renown,

Held their steel straight against the face of Death,

And frowned his frowning down.

…

And some who climbed the deadly glacis-side,

For all that steel could stay, or savage shell;

And some, whose blood upon the Colours dried

Tells if they bore them well.

Some, too, who, gentle-hearted even in strife,

Seeing their fellow or their friend go down,

Saved his, at peril of their own dear life,

Winning the Civic Crown.

Well done for them; and, fair Isle, well for thee!

While that thy bosom beareth sons like those,

“The little gem set in the silver sea”

Shall never fear her foes!

Sir Edwin Arnold.