Alexander Thompson
Lance-Corporal, 42nd Regiment
- Register No.
- 1211 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lance-Corporal (register: Lance Corporal) all Lance-Corporals →
- Unit
- 42nd Regiment (register: 42nd Regiment of Foot) all 42nd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 5 April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 27th May 1859 on this day → all of 1859 →
- Born
- in 1824 at Edinburgh
- Died
- 29th March 1880 at Perth, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- at Wellhill Cemetery, Perth, Scotland
- Medal held by
- the Black Watch Regimental Museum, Perth,
Digest of citation
During the attack on Fort Ruyha, India, on 15th April 1858, Lance-Corporal Thomson, along with four men, helped Captain Cafe to bring in the body of Lieutenant Willoughby of the 4th Punjab Rifles, from the top of the glacis, all the time being in an exposed situation and under extremely heavy fire
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
THOMPSON, Alexander. (reg No 1211).
Lance-Corporal. 42nd Regiment. * London Gazetted on 27th May 1859.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Black Watch Regimental Museum, Perth, Scotland.
Born in 1824 at Edinburgh.
Died on 29th March 1880 at Perth, Scotland.
Memorial on grave at Wellhill Cemetery, Perth, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: During the attack on Fort Ruyha, India, on 15th April 1858, Lance-Corporal Thomson, along with four men, helped Captain Cafe to bring in the body of Lieutenant Willoughby of the 4th Punjab Rifles, from the top of the glacis, all the time being in an exposed situation and under extremely heavy fire.
Additional information:. Private Spence, who was one of the men in the party, was mortally wounded and died on the 17th April, 1858. His Victoria Cross was one of several awarded posthumously on 15th January 1907. Private Cook who also aided in the recovery of the Lieutenant also won the Victoria Cross at Maylah Ghautt, India, 15th January 1859 * Black Watch.
Additional information
Private Spence, who was one of the men in the party, was mortally wounded and died on the 17th April, 1858. His Victoria Cross was one of several awarded posthumously on 15th January 1907. Private Cook who also aided in the recovery of the Lieutenant also won the Victoria Cross at Maylah Ghautt, India, 15th January 1859
* Black Watch.
Scotland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Wellhill Cemetery, Perth, Scotland
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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