Henry Tombs
Major, Bengal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 1218 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major all Majors →
- Unit
- Bengal Horse Artillery all Bengal Horse Artillery VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 July 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 24th April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 10th November 1825 at Calcutta, India
- Died
- 2nd August 1874 at Newport, Isle of Wight
- Memorial / grave
- at Carisbrooke cemetery, Isle of Wight and in the Garrison Church, Woolwich, London
- Medal held by
- the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich
Digest of citation
At the Siege of Delhi, India, on the 9th July 1857, Major Tombs twice went to the rescue of Lieutenant J. Hills, one of his junior officers. On the first occasion, one of the enemy was about to kill Lieutenant Hills with his own sword when Major Tombs rushed in and shot the rebel. A second attack on the Lieutenant caused him to be cut down by a sword wound to his head. Major Tombs drove his sword through the subaltern's attacker, who would have undoubtedly killed the young officer
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TOMBS, Henry. (reg No. 1218).
Major. Bengal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on 24th April 1858.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich.
Born on 10th November 1825 at Calcutta, India.
Died on 2nd August 1874 at Newport, Isle of Wight.
Memorial on grave at Carisbrooke cemetery, Isle of Wight and in the Garrison Church, Woolwich, London.
Digest of Citation reads: At the Siege of Delhi, India, on the 9th July 1857, Major Tombs twice went to the rescue of Lieutenant J. Hills, one of his junior officers. On the first occasion, one of the enemy was about to kill Lieutenant Hills with his own sword when Major Tombs rushed in and shot the rebel. A second attack on the Lieutenant caused him to be cut down by a sword wound to his head. Major Tombs drove his sword through the subaltern's attacker, who would have undoubtedly killed the young officer.
Additional information:. Major-General Sir Henry Tombs was created Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). He was the seventh son of Major General John and Mary Tombs. At the age of 14 he went to Sandhurst Military College until 30th June 1839. He joined the Bengal Artillery on 11th June 1841 as a Second Lieutenant. Further research required.
Additional information
Major-General Sir Henry Tombs was created Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB). He was the seventh son of Major General John and Mary Tombs. At the age of 14 he went to Sandhurst Military College until 30th June 1839. He joined the Bengal Artillery on 11th June 1841 as a Second Lieutenant. Further research required.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Carisbrooke cemetery, Isle of Wight and in the Garrison Church, Woolwich, London
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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