General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough, ( ; 28 January 1832 – 6 September 1912) was a senior British Indian Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

Gough was born into a family of Anglo-Irish gentry in Chittagong, Bengal, British India on 28 January 1832.

Career

Gough saves his brother on 15 August 1857 in his first Victoria Cross action|thumb

At age 16, Gough moved back to India, joined the 8th Bengal Cavalry, and served through the Second Anglo-Sikh War. By the age of 25, he was a major in the 5th Bengal European Cavalry.

During the Indian Mutiny, Gough and his brother Hugh were members of the Guides Corps, where they took part in the Siege of Lucknow and Gough was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for deeds which included saving his brother.

After the Mutiny, Gough continued to serve as a cavalry officer with the Indian Army, and took part in the Bhutan War of 1864–5. and in 1895 was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), retiring to Ireland the same year.

References

  • Obituary in The Register, Adelaide, 9 September 1912
  • Location of grave and VC medal (County Tipperary, Ireland)
  • The Afghan War: Gough's Action at Futtehabad (1880) at Internet Archive