James Hills-Johnes
Sir James Hills-Johnes | |
---|---|
Mentioned in Despatches (4) | |
Relations | William George Cubitt VC (brother-in-law) Lewis Pugh Evans VC (nephew) |
Early life
Born James Hills on 20 August 1833 in Neechindipur,
Military career
Hills was a 23 year old
Hills had been on picket duty with two guns near the camp when enemy cavalry attacked. In order to give the guns time, Hills rode straight at the enemy, cutting down two of them before he was knocked from his horse. Getting up he was attacked by the enemy. Hills shot one, avoided the lance of another and cut him with his sword before finishing the first attacker. A third grappled with Hills and took his sword from him but Tombs, who had come up to check the guns, arrived in time and shot the man. On the way back to the position, they encountered another of the enemy. Hills and Tombs parried the first attacks but Hills then took a blow to the head and went down; Tombs "put his sword through the man" saving Hills for the second time.[2]
The official citation in the London Gazette 27 April 1858 read:
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.)
— [3]
In addition to the Delhi clasp of the Indian Mutiny Medal, Hills received the Lucknow clasp awarded to troops under command of Sir Colin Campbell who were engaged in final operations leading to the surrender of Lucknow and the clearing of the surrounding areas from November 1857 to March 1858.
After a number of staff appointments, Hills served as an artillery officer in the
Later life
Hills-Johnes was
He died of influenza during the post-war pandemic on 3 January 1919, aged 85, at his Dolaucothi Estate and was buried at Caio, Carmarthenshire.[1]
Hills-Johnes had five brothers and four sisters. The brothers included Major-General Sir John Hills (1834–1902) of the Bombay Engineers;[1] Robert Hills (1837–1909), a first-class cricketer who was the brother-in-law of Lieutenant William George Cubitt VC and uncle of Brigadier Lewis Pugh Evans VC; and Charles Hills (1847–1935), the family history saying he was the real father of Hollywood actress Merle Oberon.[8]
His medals, including the Victoria Cross, are displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London.[9]
Notes
References
- ^ ISBN 019861411X. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ "No. 22084". The London Gazette. 16 January 1858. p. 246.
- ^ "No. 22131". The London Gazette. 27 April 1858. p. 2050.
- ^ "No. 24944". The London Gazette. 1 March 1881. p. 975.
- ^ "No. 25312". The London Gazette. 25 January 1884. p. 380.
- ^ "No. 26409". The London Gazette. 3 June 1893. p. 3251.
- ^ Army List.
- ISBN 9781858585178.
- ^ "VC locations: victoriacross.org.uk". Retrieved 10 September 2021.
Further reading
- Vetch, R. H.; Stearn, Roger T. (reviewer) (2011) [2004]. "Hills, Sir John (1834–1902)". doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33877. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.) (includes details of Sir James Hills-Johnes)
- Vibart, H. M. (1894). Addiscombe: its heroes and men of note. Westminster: Archibald Constable. pp. 608–13. OL 23336661M.