Hugh Stewart Cochrane
Lieutenant, 86th Regiment (Royal Irish Rifles)
- Register No.
- 225 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 86th Regiment (Royal Irish Rifles) (register: 86th Regiment of Foot) all 86th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 1 April 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 24th December 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- 4th August 1829 at Fort William, Inverness
- Died
- 18th April 1884 at Southsea, Hampshire
- Memorial / grave
- at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth
Digest of citation
, On 1 April 1858 near Jhansi, India, when No.1 company of the regiment was ordered to take a gun, Lieutenant Cochrane dashed forward at a gallop under heavy musketry and artillery fire, drove the enemy from the gun and kept possession of until the company came up. He also showed conspicuous gallantry in attacking the rear guard of the enemy when he had three horses in succession shot under him
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
COCHRANE, Hugh Stewart (Reg. No.225)
Lieutenant. 86th Regiment (Royal Irish Rifles)
London Gazetted on 24th December 1858 Born on 4th August 1829 at Fort William, Inverness.
Died on 18th April 1884 at Southsea, Hampshire.
Memorial on grave at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth.
Citation reads, On 1 April 1858 near Jhansi, India, when No.1 company of the regiment was ordered to take a gun, Lieutenant Cochrane dashed forward at a gallop under heavy musketry and artillery fire, drove the enemy from the gun and kept possession of until the company came up. He also showed conspicuous gallantry in attacking the rear guard of the enemy when he had three horses in succession shot under him.
Additional information. He joined the 86th Regiment as an Ensign on 13th April 1849 and was its Adjutant from 1856-58. He served in the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59 under the command of Sir Hugh Rose. He was slightly wounded at the storming and taking of the Chandairee hill fort; the Battle of Betwa (he had three horses shot from under him.); The storming and capture of Jhansi, where under extremely heavy fire he planted the Union Jack on the top of the palace; He was also at the Battles of Kooch; Calpee ; Gowlowlee; and Gwaliior. He was Second in Command of Meade's Horse in Central India from 1858-59 the in command of the Irregular Cavalry under Sir Robert Napier in the jungles of Central India whilst pursuing Tantia Topi and Ferozeshah. The despatch for his VC came from Major-General Sir Hugh Rose GCB, dated 23rd April 1858. Lt. Cochrane also received the Medal and clasp. He was later transferred to the 7th Fuliers and promoted to Captain and was mentioned twice in Despatches, reieved the Medal and clasp and promoted Bevet-Major on the 19th January 1864. He was at the battles of Umbeyla Pass; promoted Major in the 7th Fusiliers on 28th October 1871, Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel on 7th January 1874; He was Commandant at Khandala 1874-75' CO at Deolali 1875-77; transferred and Commanded the 43rd Light Infantry in India on 16th February 1878 to 1881 where on the 7th January 1881 he was given the Brevet of a Colonel. Colonel Cochrane retired from the army because of ill-heath.. His death was announced in 'The Times' on 21st April 1884 as being at Southsea Hampshire on the 18th April 1884.
From Alf's photographs
Lt Cochrane VC - Portsmouth Cemetry, Hants (gallery) 
Lt Cochrane VC - Portsmouth Cemetry, Hants (gallery)
Additional information
on 13th April 1849 and was its Adjutant from 1856-58. He served in the Indian Mutiny of 1857-59 under the command of Sir Hugh Rose. He was slightly wounded at the storming and taking of the Chandairee hill fort; the Battle of Betwa (he had three horses shot from under him.); The storming and capture of Jhansi, where under extremely heavy fire he planted the Union Jack on the top of the palace; He was also at the Battles of Kooch; Calpee ; Gowlowlee; and Gwaliior. He was Second in Command of Meade's Horse in Central India from 1858-59 the in command of the Irregular Cavalry under Sir Robert Napier in the jungles of Central India whilst pursuing Tantia Topi and Ferozeshah. The despatch for his VC came from Major-General Sir Hugh Rose GCB, dated 23rd April 1858. Lt. Cochrane also received the Medal and clasp. He was later transferred to the 7th Fuliers and promoted to Captain and was mentioned twice in Despatches, reieved the Medal and clasp and promoted Bevet-Major on the 19th January 1864. He was at the battles of Umbeyla Pass; promoted Major in the 7th Fusiliers on 28th October 1871, Brevet Lieutenant- Colonel on 7th January 1874; He was Commandant at Khandala 1874-75' CO at Deolali 1875-77; transferred and Commanded the 43rd Light Infantry in India on 16th February 1878 to 1881 where on the 7th January 1881 he was given the Brevet of a Colonel. Colonel Cochrane retired from the army because of ill-heath.. His death was announced in 'The Times' on 21st April 1884 as being at Southsea Hampshire on the 18th April 1884.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Highland Road Cemetery, Portsmouth
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