Alexander Roberts Dunn
Lieutenant (later Colonel), 11th Hussars. (Prince Albert's Own)
- Register No.
- 359 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (later Colonel) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 11th Hussars. (Prince Albert's Own) all 11th Hussars VCs →
- Date of action
- 25 October 1854 on this day → all of 1854 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 24th February 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 15th September, 1833 at Dunstable, York *, Canada
- Died
- a 25th January 1868 at Senafe, Abyssinia
- Memorial / grave
- Military Cemetery at Senafe, Abyssinia and on The Regimental Memorial at York Minster
Digest of citation
On 20th October 1854 Balaclava, Crimea,(The Light Cavalry during the Charge of the Light Brigade), Lieutenant Dunn saved the life of a sergeant* of his regiment, by cutting down two or three Russian Lancers who were attacking from the rear. He later killed a Russian Hussar who was attacking a private*
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DUNN, Alexander Roberts. (reg No. 359).
Lieutenant (later Colonel). 11th Hussars. (Prince Albert's Own).
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on 15th September, 1833 at Dunstable, York *, Canada.
Died on a 25th January 1868 at Senafe, Abyssinia.
Memorial at Military Cemetery at Senafe, Abyssinia and on The Regimental Memorial at York Minster.
Digest of Citation reads: On 20th October 1854 Balaclava, Crimea,(The Light Cavalry during the Charge of the Light Brigade), Lieutenant Dunn saved the life of a sergeant* of his regiment, by cutting down two or three Russian Lancers who were attacking from the rear. He later killed a Russian Hussar who was attacking a private*.
* Now Toronto.
*Sergeant Bentley and*Private Levett, both of the 11th Hussars .
Additional information: He was the second son of the Honourable John Henry Dunn (one-time Receiver General of Upper Canada). Lieutenant Dunn was the first person Born on in Canada to win the Victoria Cross. He joined the 11th Hussars in 1852 and on 29th June 1858 was promoted to Major. A wealthy man, he retired to his estates in Canada. At the outbreak of the Indian mutiny (1857-58) he organised the 100th Regiment being appointed to its Lieutenant Colonel in 1861 In 1868 he was commanding the the 33rd Regiment in the Abyssinian war. He was the youngest Colonel in the Army. His future was ensured in an army career but for his untimely death . His death was tragic. On the 25th January 1868, according to his native servant, the only person with him at the time, they had gone hunting, taking his rifle, looking for game. Whilst stooping forward over a ditch to get some water, Colonel Dunn's gun was accidentally fired from both barrels into his right side. He managed to say, "if for a doctor," before dying .
Additional information
He was the second son of the Honourable John Henry Dunn (one-time Receiver General of Upper Canada). Lieutenant Dunn was the first person Born on in Canada to win the Victoria Cross. He joined the 11th Hussars in 1852 and on 29th June 1858 was promoted to Major. A wealthy man, he retired to his estates in Canada. At the outbreak of the Indian mutiny (1857-58) he organised the 100th Regiment being appointed to its Lieutenant Colonel in 1861 In 1868 he was commanding the the 33rd Regiment in the Abyssinian war. He was the youngest Colonel in the Army. His future was ensured in an army career but for his untimely death . His death was tragic. On the 25th January 1868, according to his native servant, the only person with him at the time, they had gone hunting, taking his rifle, looking for game. Whilst stooping forward over a ditch to get some water, Colonel Dunn's gun was accidentally fired from both barrels into his right side. He managed to say, "if for a doctor," before dying .
* Now Toronto.
*Sergeant Bentley and*Private Levett, both of the 11th Hussars
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Military Cemetery at Senafe, Abyssinia and on The Regimental Memorial at York Minster
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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