James Hills

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James Hills VC GCB (20 August 1833-3 January 1919) was an Welsh 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.

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[edit] Details

He was 23 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 9 July 1857, at the siege of Delhi, India, Second Lieutenant Hills most gallantly defended the position assigned to him when attacked by enemy cavalry. Single-handed he charged the head of the enemy's column and fought fiercely - on foot after he and his horse had been ridden down. He was about to be killed with his own sword which one of the enemy had wrested from him, when his senior officer (Henry Tombs) saw what was happening and twice in a short space of time came to the rescue of his subaltern.

[edit] Further information

Brother-in-law of Lieutenant W.G. Cubitt, VC.
Later HILLS-JOHNES. He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant General.

[edit] The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum (Woolwich, England).

[edit] External links