James Hills
Second Lieutenant, Bengal Horse Artillery
- Register No.
- 570 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- 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
- 20th August, 1833 at Neechindipur, Bengal
- Died
- 3rd January, 1919 at Dolaucothy, Carmarthenshire, Wales
- Memorial / grave
- at Caio Churchyard, Carmarthen and at St George Royal Garrison Church, Woolwich
Digest of citation
On 9th July 1857, at the Siege of Delhi, India, Second Lieutenant Hills most gallantly defended the position assigned to him when attacked by enemy cavalry. Single-handed he charged the head of the enemy's column and fought fiercely: continuing on foot after he and his horse had been ridden down. He was about to be killed with his own sword which one of the enemy had wrested from him, when his senior officer * saw what was happening and twice in a short space of time came to a rescue of his subaltern
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
HILLS, James. (reg No. 570)
Second Lieutenant. Bengal Horse Artillery.
London Gazetted on 24th April, 1858.
Born on 20th August, 1833 at Neechindipur, Bengal.
Died on3rd January, 1919 at Dolaucothy, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Memorial on grave at Caio Churchyard, Carmarthen and at St George Royal Garrison Church, Woolwich.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th July 1857, at the Siege of Delhi, India, Second Lieutenant Hills most gallantly defended the position assigned to him when attacked by enemy cavalry. Single-handed he charged the head of the enemy's column and fought fiercely: continuing on foot after he and his horse had been ridden down. He was about to be killed with his own sword which one of the enemy had wrested from him, when his senior officer * saw what was happening and twice in a short space of time came to a rescue of his subaltern.
* H Tombs. (reg No. 1218).
Additional information:. Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes (changed name) was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB). He became the Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment: the chairman of Carmarthen County Association Territorial Forces and Joint Counties Association. He also became a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Carmarthen. Lieutenant W G Cubitt VC (reg No. 283 ) was his brother-in-law. More to add.
Additional information
Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes (changed name) was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB). He became the Honorary Colonel of the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment: the chairman of Carmarthen County Association Territorial Forces and Joint Counties Association. He also became a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Carmarthen. Lieutenant W G Cubitt VC (reg No. 283 ) was his brother-in-law. More to add.
* H Tombs. (reg No. 1218).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Caio Churchyard, Carmarthen and at St George Royal Garrison Church, Woolwich
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.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour James Hills by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.