James Dundas
Lieutenant (later Captain), Bengal Engineers, Indian Army
- Register No.
- 356 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (later Captain) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- Bengal Engineers, Indian Army all Bengal Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 April 1865 on this day → all of 1865 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Bhutan War
- London Gazette
- 31st December 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Born
- 10th September 1842 at Edinburgh Corps
- Died
- 23rd December, 1879 at Sherpur, Afghanistan
- Memorial / grave
- St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and Rochester Cathedral, Kent
Digest of citation
On 30th April 1865 at Dewan-Giri, Bhootan, India, a number of the enemy, about 200 strong, had barricaded themselves in the Blockhouse, which they continued to defend after the main body was in retreat. The Blockhouse, which was loopholed, was the key of the enemy's position and on the orders of the general in command, Lieutenant Dundas and another officer * had to climb the 14ft. wall and then go head-first through an opening only two feet wide. The two officers scaled the wall, followed, after they had set the example, by the Sikh soldiers, but they were both wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DUNDAS. James. (reg No. 356).
Lieutenant (later Captain) Bengal Engineers, Indian Army.
London Gazetted on 31st December 1867.
Born on 10th September 1842 at Edinburgh Corps.
Died on 23rd December, 1879 at Sherpur, Afghanistan.
Memorials at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and Rochester Cathedral, Kent.
Digest of Citation reads: On 30th April 1865 at Dewan-Giri, Bhootan, India, a number of the enemy, about 200 strong, had barricaded themselves in the Blockhouse, which they continued to defend after the main body was in retreat. The Blockhouse, which was loopholed, was the key of the enemy's position and on the orders of the general in command, Lieutenant Dundas and another officer * had to climb the 14ft. wall and then go head-first through an opening only two feet wide. The two officers scaled the wall, followed, after they had set the example, by the Sikh soldiers, but they were both wounded.
* W.S. Trevor (reg No. 1230).
* W.S. Trevor (reg No. 1230).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh and Rochester Cathedral, Kent
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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