James Thompson

Private, 1st Battalion 60th Rifles (King's Royal Rifle Corps)

VC
Register No.
1213 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Private all Privates →
Unit
1st Battalion 60th Rifles (King's Royal Rifle Corps) all 60th Rifles VCs →
Date of action
9 July 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
Conflict / campaign
Indian Mutiny
London Gazette
20th January, 1860 on this day → all of 1860 →
Born
in 1830 (actual date not known) at Yoxall, Burton, Staffordshire
Died
5th December, 1891 at Walsall, Staffordshire
Memorial / grave
grave in Old Cemetery, Walsall
Medal held by
the Royal Green Jackets' Museum, Winchester

Digest of citation

At Lucknow, India, on 9th July, 1857, Private Thompson saved the life of his Officer, Captain Wilton, by dashing forward to his relief when the Captain was surrounded by a party of Ghazees, who rushed at him suddenly, from a serai. The Private Thompson killed two of the enemy before further assistance arrived. He was also commended for conspicuous gallantry throughout the siege

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

THOMPSON, James. ( reg No. 1213).

Private. 1st Battalion 60th Rifles (King's Royal Rifle Corps).

London Gazetted on 20th January, 1860.

Vc Medal's Custodian is the Royal Green Jackets' Museum, Winchester.

Born on in 1830 (actual date not known) at Yoxall, Burton, Staffordshire.

Died on 5th December, 1891 at Walsall, Staffordshire.

Memorial at grave in Old Cemetery, Walsall.

Digest of Citation reads: At Lucknow, India, on 9th July, 1857, Private Thompson saved the life of his Officer, Captain Wilton, by dashing forward to his relief when the Captain was surrounded by a party of Ghazees, who rushed at him suddenly, from a serai. The Private Thompson killed two of the enemy before further assistance arrived. He was also commended for conspicuous gallantry throughout the siege.

Additional information : He was elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, by his Regiment, for the Victoria Cross. In 1920 the Medal was in the possession of one Alexander Duncan Esq

Additional information

He was elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant, by his Regiment, for the Victoria Cross. In 1920 the Medal was in the possession of one Alexander Duncan Esq

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Old Cemetery, Walsall

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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