Major-General Sir Henry Tombs VC KCB (10 November 1824 – 2 August 1874) was a British Army officer and 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.

Early life

Henry Tombs was born at sea on passage to India on 10 November 1824. He was the youngest of seven to Major-General John Tombs, Bengal cavalry, and Mary Remington.

During the First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) Tombs commanded a horse artillery troop at the battles of Moodkee and Ferozeshah, and was Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General Sir Harry Smith at the battle of Aliwal.

Victoria Cross

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:

Later career

For services at the siege of Delhi, Tombs was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in January 1858. In March 1858 he took part in the siege and capture of Lucknow before participating in a number of minor operations. He was promoted brevet colonel in July 1858, and lieutenant-colonel, Royal Artillery, in April 1861. and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in March 1868, Tombs was appointed to command a division in 1871, first at Allahabad, then at Oudh. In 1874 he resigned his command due to ill health and died at Newport, Isle of Wight, on 2 August 1874, aged 49.</blockquote>

At news of Tombs's death, the Commander-in-Chief, India, Lord Napier issued a general order expressing regret at the loss of "so distinguished an officer".

References

Sources

  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
  • Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
  • Tombs of Abingdon (Nigel Hammond, Oxfordshire Family Historian, December 2004)
  • "Memoir of Major-General Sir Henry Tombs" (Royal Artillery Institution, 1913)
  • "Memoir of Major-General Sir Henry Marion Duran" (Volume 1, 1883)
  • "The New Army List; The Bank, Standing, and Various Services Regimental Officer in the Army Serving on Full Pay, Including the Royal Marines and Indian Staff Corps" (1869)
  • "The memoirs of the Gemini Generals: personal anecdotes, sporting adventures, and sketches of distinguished officers" (A. D. Innes, 1896)
  • "oxford Dictionary of National Biography" (1885–1900, Volume 57)
  • Details of Tombs grave. Friends of Newport & Carisbrooke Cemeteries
  • Location of grave and VC medal www.victoriacross.org.uk
  • East India Company Births
  • Sir Henry Tombs: biography. VConline.org.uk