John Paton
Sergeant, 93rd Regiment
- Register No.
- 970 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 93rd Regiment (register: 93rd Regiment of Foot) all 93rd Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 16 November 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- the 24th December, 1858 on this day → all of 1858 →
- Born
- the 23rd December, 1833 at Stirling, Scotland
- Died
- 1st April 1914 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, Australia
Digest of citation
On 16th November 1857, Sergeant Paton went alone around the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, India, under extremely heavy fire and discovered a breach in the opposite side. Later he conducted the Regiment to this breach and by this means, the important position was taken
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PATON, John. (reg No. 970).
Sergeant. 93rd Regiment * London Gazetted on the 24th December, 1858.
Born on the 23rd December, 1833 at Stirling, Scotland.
Died on 1st April 1914 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Memorial on grave at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: On 16th November 1857, Sergeant Paton went alone around the Shah Nujjiff, at Lucknow, India, under extremely heavy fire and discovered a breach in the opposite side. Later he conducted the Regiment to this breach and by this means, the important position was taken..
* Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Additional information:. Sergeant Paton was elected by the non-commissioned officers of the 93rd Regiment for the Victoria Cross, under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January 1856. He joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in the campaigns of Turkey, the Crimea and India from February 1854 to July 1856. Before the Crimean War the 42nd, 79th and 93rd Highlanders were formed into the Highland Brigade. They fought at the Battle of Alma. On the 25th September, the Highland Brigade formed a part of the historic "thin red line ," which faced the whole of the Russian Cavalry at Balaclava. They were at the front at the storming of Sebastopol. They were ordered to China in 1857, but on the way they were given orders to proceed as quickly as possible to India as the Indian Mutiny had begun. They reached Lucknow, India, on the 15th November and the same day fought with the enemy outposts. The following day the Secundra Bagh was stormed: 2000 Sepoys were killed. He fought at Cawnpore, Lucknow and Bareilly, his final action was in the storming Dilkusha Bagh.
Additional information
Sergeant Paton was elected by the non-commissioned officers of the 93rd Regiment for the Victoria Cross, under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant of 29th January 1856. He joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and served in the campaigns of Turkey, the Crimea and India from February 1854 to July 1856. Before the Crimean War the 42nd, 79th and 93rd Highlanders were formed into the Highland Brigade. They fought at the Battle of Alma. On the 25th September, the Highland Brigade formed a part of the historic "thin red line ," which faced the whole of the Russian Cavalry at Balaclava. They were at the front at the storming of Sebastopol. They were ordered to China in 1857, but on the way they were given orders to proceed as quickly as possible to India as the Indian Mutiny had begun. They reached Lucknow, India, on the 15th November and the same day fought with the enemy outposts. The following day the Secundra Bagh was stormed: 2000 Sepoys were killed. He fought at Cawnpore, Lucknow and Bareilly, his final action was in the storming Dilkusha Bagh.
* Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney, Australia
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 John Paton by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.