GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY V.C. London Gazette 27 April 1858.


Major Henry Tombs was awarded his V.C. for twice saving the life of Second Lieutenant James Hills, who was also awarded a Victoria Cross for the same action. They were both recommended for the award by Lieutenant Colonel M. Mackenzie, Commanding 1st Brigade, Horse Artillery and it is worthy of note that it is documented that Mackenzie first ‘tore up Tomb’s own report in which he had said nothing about his own part in the affair.’


Second Lieutenant James Hills (later known as Hills-Johnes) went on to have a distinguished military career, attaining the rank of Lieutenant-General and being made G.C.B. in 1893. His awards are in the collection of the Royal Artillery Museum.


In relation to the award of the V.C. to Tombs and Hills, Despatch No. 40, containing Lieutenant Colonel M. Mackenzie’s report written on 10 July 1857, the day following the action states the following:


‘It is with great pleasure I submit, for the information of the Brigadier Commandant, the following account of the very gallant conduct of Second Lieutenant James Hills, of the 2nd Troop, 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, and the noble behaviour of his commanding officer, Major H. Tombs, in twice coming to his subaltern’s rescue and on each occasion killing his man.


Yesterday, the 9th inst., Second Lieutenant J. Hills was on picket duty, with two guns, at the mound to the right of the camp. At about eleven o’clock a.m. there was a rumour that the enemy’s cavalry were coming down on his post. Lieutenant Hills proceeded to take up the position assigned in case of alarm, but before he reached the spot he saw the enemy close upon his guns, before he had time to form up. To enable him to do this, Lieutenant Hills boldly charged, single-handed, the head of the enemy’s column, cut down the first man, struck the second and was ridden down, horse and all.


On getting up and searching for his sword, three more men came at him (two mounted). The first man he wounded with his pistol, he caught the lance of the second with his left hand, and wounded him with his sword. The first man then came again and was cut down; the third man (on foot) then came up and wrenched the sword from the hand of Lieutenant Hills (who fell in the struggle), and the enemy was about to cut him down when Major Tombs (who had gone up to visit his two guns) saw what was going on, rushed in and shot the man and saved Lieutenant Hills. By this time the enemy’s cavalry had passed by, and Major Tombs and Lieutenant Hills went to look after the wounded men, when Lieutenant Hills observed one of the enemy passing with his (Lieutenant Hills’) pistol. They walked towards him. The man began flourishing his sword and dancing about. He first cut at Lieutenant Hills, who parried the blow, and he then turned on Major Tombs, who received the blow in the same manner. His second attack on Lieutenant Hills was, I regret to say, more successful, as he was cut down with a bad sword cut on the head, and would have no doubt been killed had not Major Tombs rushed in and put his sword through the man.


I feel convinced that such gallant conduct on the part of these two officers has only to be brought properly forward to meet with an appropriate reward. Major Tombs was saved from a severe sword cut on the head by the wadded head-dress he wore.’


The Commander-in-Chief, when forwarding the above report stated: ‘It is unnecessary for me to make any further comment on Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie’s report than to observe that the conduct of these officers has always been conspicuous for distinguished gallantry and that in recommending them to the most favourable consideration of the Governor General in Council, I consider them to be worthy of the highest distinction that can be awarded for valour and heroism.’


Account of The action, written with the assistance of Major General Sir Henry Tombs, V.C., K.C.B (Extracted from Kaye and Malleson’s History of The Indian Mutiny 1857-8)


‘On the 9th of July the mutineers came out in force against us. Intelligence of their design reached General Reed in the morning, and he was in some measure prepared for them; but he scarcely expected a daring inroad of rebel Cavalry into our Camp. But about ten o'clock, through a mist of heavy rain, our English officers, on the "Mound" discerned their approach. Here, on a piece of elevated ground to the right rear of our Camp, was planted a battery of three heavy guns, with the usual Infantry Picquet. In addition to this a Cavalry Picquet was thrown out, somewhat in advance of the Mound; and this now consisted of a party of Carabineers, two Horse Artillery guns of Tombs’s troop, and a detachment of the 9th Irregular Cavalry, under a Native officer, which occupied the extreme point in advance. Perplexed by the appearance of the familiar uniform of the Irregular Cavalry of our own picquets, our people at first thought that they had been driven in by the advance of the enemy; and so the guns, which might have opened upon them, were pointed harmlessly at the troopers. These men were dressed exactly like the 9th Irregulars, which led to the supposition that part of that regiment which was on picquet on that flank, had mutinied; but it turned out that the greater part of them, at least, belonged to the 8th Irregulars who had mutinied at Bareli.


But there was something much worse than this. The mistake of the British Artillery was followed by the disgrace of the British Cavalry. As the Irregulars of the 8th from Delhi swept on, the detachment of Carabineers, which formed a part of the picquet, turned and fled. Stillman, who commanded them, remained alone at his post. With respect to the flight of the Carabineers, General Reed wrote: “In the confusion, I am sorry to say a detachment of the Carabineers, who were escorting the guns, gave way, in spite of the endeavours of their officers to stop them. These men I propose to dismount as a disgrace to them. It would appear that they are composed mostly of recruits, and, being mounted on half-broken horses, do not know how to manage them."


The first error was soon discovered. Hills, who was in charge of the artillery - two horse-artillery guns - of the picquet, saw presently that it was a hostile attack, and ordered out his guns for action. But the enemy were upon him; he had not time to open fire. In this emergency the dashing Artillery subaltern - a man of light weight and short stature, young in years, but with the coolness of a veteran and the courage of a giant - set spurs to his horse and rushed into the midst of the advancing troopers, cutting right and left at them with good effect, until two of them charged him at the same time, and by the shock of the collision, both horse and rider were thrown violently to the ground. Regaining his feet after his assailants had passed on, he recovered his sword in time to renew the combat with three Sawars, two mounted and one on foot. The two first he cut down, and then engaged the third, a young, active swordsman of good courage, who came fresh to the encounter, whilst Hills, scant of breath and shaken by his fall, had lost all his first strength, but none of his first courage. The heavy cloak, too, which he wore, as a protection against the rain, dragged at his throat, and well-nigh choked him. The chances were now fearfully against him. Twice he fired, but his pistol snapped, and then he cut at his opponent's shoulder. The blow did not take effect; and the trooper, watching his opportunity, clutched at the English subaltern's sword and wrested it from him. Hills then closed with his enemy, grappled him so that he could not strike out with his sabre, and smote him with clenched fist again and again on the face, until the Englishman slipped and fell to the ground.


The" Mound" was a favourite place of gathering in Camp. It commonly happened that many of our officers were to be seen there, watching the progress of events below, or discussing the operations of the siege. But the heavy rain of the 9th of July had driven our people to the shelter of their tents. Among others, Major Tombs was in the Artillery mess-tent - one of the cheeriest places in Camp - when a trooper of the 9th Irregular Cavalry, in a state of high excitement, rode up and asked the way to the General’s quarters. In reply to a question from Tombs, he said that the enemy were showing in front of our picquets; but the man's words seemed but scantly to express all that was in him, so Tombs hurried to his own tent, took his sword and revolver, and ordering his horse to be brought after him, walked down to the Mound Picquets. As he approached the post, he saw the Carabineers drawn up in mounted array, and our guns getting ready for action. In a minute there was a tremendous rush of Irregular Horse, the troopers brandishing their swords and


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