VC - The Indian Mutiny
Bugler Robert Hawthorne VC
Robert Hawthorne was born in the village of Maghera, in County Londonderry, although his birthplace was mistakenly called ‘Moghera’ in the Historical Record of the 52nd.
He won the Victoria Cross during the Indian Mutiny, which broke out in 1857 following a rumour that greased cartridges used by the army were smeared with the fat of sacred cows and “unclean” pigs – thereby alienating the Hindu and Moslem sepoys and uniting them against the British.
The rising was followed by hideous cruelty - the European officers being treacherously shot, while hundreds of women and children were ruthlessly massacred. Delhi soon fell into the hands of the insurgents, while Lucknow and Cawnpore were besieged.
The 52nd Light Infantry, which had been one of the few regular units in India at the start of the Mutiny, was heavily-involved in the suppression of the mutineers – the re-capture of Delhi being one of the most famous episodes in that conflict.
The assault began on 14th September 1857 with the blowing-up of the Kashmir gate by an advanced explosives party comprising Lieutenant Philip Salkeld, Lieutenant Duncan Charles Home, Sergeant John Smith and Bugler Robert Hawthorne of the 52nd. Bugler Hawthorne was awarded the VC for conspicuous gallantry for his role in the blowing up of the gate in broad daylight preparatory to the assault, coolly sounding the advance under intense musket fire from the walls as the explosive charges were detonated, and then rescuing Lieutenant Salkeld, who had been badly wounded.
Bugler Hawthorne died in Manchester on 2nd February 1879, his grave being in Ardwick Cemetery. Hawthorne Road in Maghera commemorates the local VC winner – one of no less than 52 Irish VCs in the Indian Mutiny.
Colonel Hugh Stewart Cochrane VC
Hugh Cochrane was born at Fort William on 4th August 1829, and he joined the 86th Regiment (Royal Irish Rifles) as an Ensign on 13th April 1849. Having been promoted to lieutenant, he was Adjutant of the Regiment from 1856 until 1858. He won the VC during the Indian Mutiny on 1st April 1858 while serving under the command of Sir Hugh Rose.
His citation reveals that, when No.1 company of the regiment was ordered to capture an enemy gun, Lieutenant Cochrane dashed forward at a gallop under heavy musket and artillery fire, drove the enemy from the gun and held the position until the company came up. He also showed conspicuous gallantry in attacking the enemy rearguard, when he had three horses in succession shot from under him. He was wounded during the storming of the Chandairee Hill Fort while, during the capture of Jhansi, he planted the Union Flag on the top of the palace under heavy fire. He was also present at the Battles of Kooch, Calpee, Gowlowlee and Gwaliior, and served as second-in-command of Meade's Horse in Central India from 1858 until 1859.
Lieutenant Cochrane was later transferred to the 7th Fusiliers and promoted to the rank of Captain. He was mentioned twice in Despatches, promoted Bevet-Major on the 19th January 1864, Major on 28th October 1871 and Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 7th January 1874. He was Commandant at Khandala from 1874 until 1875, and CO at Deolali from 1875 until 1877 before transferring to the 43rd Light Infantry which he commanded from 16th February 1878 until. On 7th January 1881 he was given the Brevet of a Colonel.
Colonel Cochrane retired from the army because of ill-heath, and he died at Southsea on 18th April 1884, his grave being in the Highland Road Cemetery at Portsmouth. It is interesting to note that Colonel Cochrane, who succeeded Hugh Rowlands VC as Colonel of the 43rd, was one of three VCs to command the Regiment in succession.
Lance-Corporal Henry Smith VC
Henry Smith was born at Thames Ditton, Surrey, in 1825. He served as a lance-corporal in the 52nd Regiment during the Indian Mutiny and took part in the re-capture of Delhi after six days' vicious street fighting. Lance-Corporal Smith was awarded the VC for his gallantry during the assault on 14th September 1857, when he carried away a wounded comrade while under extremely heavy musket and cannon fire in the Chandee Chouch area of the City. He was later promoted to sergeant, but died of cholera in Gwalior on 18th August 1862 at the age of 37, his body being buried anonymously in a mass grave.
Sergeant Smith's Victoria Cross and Indian Mutiny Medal were auctioned for £70 in July 1896 at Sotheby & Wilkinson's. They were bought by the officers of the 52nd Regiment and, for many years, they could be seen in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Museum, but in April 1999 it was agreed that this medal would be loaned to the Royal Green Jackets Museum at Winchester.
Private Henry Addison VC
Henry Addison was born at Bardwell in Suffolk in 1821 and, having joined the 43rd Light Infantry, he served in India during the period of the Indian Mutiny, winning the VC for his bravery near Kurrereah on 2nd January 1859, when he defended Lieutenant Osborne, a Political Agent, against a large force and saved his life when he had fallen on the ground wounded. In the course of this gallant action, Private Addison received two dangerous wounds.
Notwithstanding the loss of a leg as led as a result of his injuries, Private Addison returned to Suffolk and died at Bardwell aged 66 on 18th June 1887. His grave is in the graveyard of St Peter & Paul Bardwell Church at Bardwell, and his VC, which was loaned to the Royal Green Jackets Museum in 1999, is now in the Light Infantry Museum at Winchester.