James Hills-Johnes
| Sir James Hills-Johnes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | James Hills |
| Born |
20 August 1833 Neechindipur, British India |
| Died |
3 January 1919 (aged 85) Dolaucothi Estate, Carmarthenshire |
| Buried at | Caio, Carmarthenshire |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
Bengal Army British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit |
Bengal Horse Artillery Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars |
Indian Mutiny Abyssinian War Second Anglo-Afghan War |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Order of the Bath |
| Relations | W.G. Cubitt VC (brother-in-law) |
Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes (added Johnes after his marriage) VC, GCB (20 August 1833 – 3 January 1919) was a 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.
Biography
He was born in Neechindipur in Bengal, India, the son of James Hills, and was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and the Addiscombe Military Seminary. He entered the Bengal Artillery in 1853 and served in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, winning the Victoria Cross at the Siege of Delhi. He also present at the Siege of Lucknow (1858), fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80), and was made military governor of Kabul.
He was awarded a KCB in 1881 and GCB in 1893.
VC details
He was 23 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at the Siege of Delhi on 9 July 1857 for which he and Henry Tombs were awarded the Victoria Cross:
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tombs, C.B., and Lieutenant James Hills
Date of Act of Bravery, 9 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, 10 July 1857, published in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 16 January 1858.)[1]
He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant General serving with the Royal Artillery.
Later life
He was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1886 and made an honorary freeman of the town of Carmarthen in 1910.
He died in 1919 at his Dolaucothi Estate, being buried at Caio, Carmarthenshire. He had married in 1882, Elizabeth, younger daughter and coheiress of John Johnes of Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire and assumed the additional surname of Johnes. He was the brother-in-law of Lieutenant W.G. Cubitt VC.
Hills family history says his younger brother Charles Hills (1847–1935) was the real father of Hollywood actress Merle Oberon.[2]
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London.
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22131. p. 2050. 27 April 1858. Retrieved 26 September 2009.
- ↑ MacNair, Miles (2013). Indigo & Opium: two remarkable families and fortunes won and lost. Studley: Brewin Books. ISBN 9781858585178.
Further reading
- Vetch, R.H.; Stearn, Roger T. (reviewer) (2011) [2004]. "Hills, Sir John (1834–1902)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved 21 November 2010. (includes details of Sir James Hills-Johnes) (subscription required)
- Vibart, H.M. (1894). Addiscombe: its heroes and men of note. Westminster: Archibald Constable. pp. 608–13.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Dyfed, Wales)
- James Hills-Johnes at Find a Grave
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