Campbell Mellis Douglas
Assistant surgeon (later Lieutenant-Colonel), 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers)
- Register No.
- 340 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Assistant surgeon (later Lieutenant-Colonel) (register: Assistant surgeon) all Assistant Surgeons →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers) (register: 24th Regiment of Foot) all 24th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 May 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Andaman Islands Expedition
- London Gazette
- 17th December, 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Born
- 5th August 1840 at Quebec, Canada
- Died
- 31st December, 1909 at Hollington, near Wells, Somerset
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
On 7th May, 1867 at the Island of Little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Assistant Surgeon Douglas and four privates * of the 2nd/24th Regiment risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who were landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders. No. 496) and T Murphy (reg No. 904)
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DOUGLAS, Campbell Mellis. (reg No. 340).
Assistant surgeon (later Lieutenant-Colonel) 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers).
London Gazetted on 17th December, 1867.
Born on 5th August 1840 at Quebec, Canada.
Died on 31st December, 1909 at Hollington, near Wells, Somerset.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: On 7th May, 1867 at the Island of Little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Assistant Surgeon Douglas and four privates * of the 2nd/24th Regiment risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who were landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders.
* D. Bell reg No. 75); J Cooper (reg No. 252); W Griffiths (reg No. 496) and T Murphy (reg No. 904).
Additional information: Lieutenant Colonel Douglas' Victoria Cross was unusual in the fact that it was awarded for saving life its sea in a storm off the Andaman Islands, and not for bravery in battle. He also holds the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society .
Additional information
Lieutenant Colonel Douglas' Victoria Cross was unusual in the fact that it was awarded for saving life its sea in a storm off the Andaman Islands, and not for bravery in battle. He also holds the Silver Medal of the Royal Humane Society .
* D. Bell reg No. 75); J Cooper (reg No. 252); W Griffiths (reg
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Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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