The Book of the V.C.: A record of the deeds of heroism for which the Victoria Cross has been bestowed, from its institution in 1857 to the present timeHaydon, A. L. (Arthur Lincoln)
History
The Book of the V.C.: A record of the deeds of heroism for which the Victoria Cross has been bestowed, from its institution in 1857 to the present time
Haydon, A. L. (Arthur Lincoln)
Great Britain -- History, Military; Victoria Cross
In pursuit of the flying tribesmen went Colonel Robert Bellew Adams,
Captain Palmer, Lieutenant Greaves, and Viscount Fincastle, the latter
being present in the capacity of _Times_ correspondent. Palmer’s horse
was soon hit, its rider being saved by some of his men who galloped
after him. Greaves’ horse, becoming restive under the din of the firing,
suddenly bolted, and away went the lieutenant careering among the enemy.
Seeing him alone among the Swatis, Colonel Adams and Viscount Fincastle
spurred hastily to his rescue, but before they could reach him the
hapless lieutenant had been struck down by a swordsman. In the hope that
he was not killed they pushed on, and with a furious charge swept the
ground clear around his body.
A well-aimed shot now brought down Fincastle’s horse, leaving the young
war-correspondent to meet his enemies on foot. He at once endeavoured to
raise Greaves on to Adams’ saddle, but the wounded man slipped off again,
and a rush of Ghazis prevented a second attempt for the time. Standing
over the lieutenant’s body, Fincastle bravely kept the enemy at bay,
being well aided by Colonel Adams. Then two sowars rode up to them, and
another attempt was made to lift Greaves to the saddle. They succeeded in
their object, but another bullet hit the poor fellow again as they raised
him and killed him.
By this time Lieutenant MacLean of the same squadron had led the rest of
the troopers to the cover of some trees. Leaving them here, he dashed
out with three sowars to the others’ help. Shots fell thickly among
them from the Ghazis on the hillside, but together they managed to get
Greaves’ body on to a trooper’s horse, and at once made off for shelter.
Fincastle and MacLean were on foot, the latter’s horse having also been
shot; and as they went along the young lieutenant was hit in both thighs
and mortally wounded. Colonel Adams escaped with a sword-cut in his right
hand.
Both Adams and Fincastle received the V.C. for their brave attempt
to rescue Greaves, while Lieutenant Hector Lachlan Stewart MacLean
was gazetted at the same time as one who would have been awarded the
decoration had he lived.
* * * * *
There was a sharp piece of fighting in the Mamund Valley some weeks
later, where two young Engineer officers, Lieutenants Watson and Colvin,
distinguished themselves in driving the enemy from the burning village
of Bilot, and added V.C. to their names. But I must pass on to tell of
the famous storming of the heights of Dargai and of how the “gay Gordons”
there covered themselves with fresh glory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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