| Henry Tombs | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 November 1825 Calcutta, British India |
| Died | 2 August 1874 (aged 48) Newport, Isle of Wight |
| Buried at | Carisbrooke Cemetery |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | Bengal Army British Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Battles/wars | First Anglo-Sikh War Second Anglo-Sikh War Bhutan War Indian Mutiny |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Order of the Bath |
Major General Sir Henry Tombs VC KCB (10 November 1825 – 2 August 1874) was a 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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Tombs was educated at Abingdon School and studied to become an officer at Addiscombe Military Academy. At the age of thirty-one, when a major in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny, the following deed took place at the Siege of Delhi for which he and James Hills were awarded the VC:
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tombs, C.B., and Lieutenant James HillsDate of Act of Bravery, 9th July, 1857
For very gallant conduct on the part of Lieutenant Hills before Delhi, in defending the position assigned to him in case of alarm, and for noble behaviour on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Tombs in twice coming to his subaltern's rescue, and on each occasion killing his man.
(See despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, Commanding 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, dated Camp, near Delhi, 10th July, 1857,
published in the Supplement to the London Gazette of the 16th January, 1858.)[1]
He later achieved the rank of major general.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London.