Robert Hope Moncrieff Aitken
Lieutenant (later Colonel), 13th Bengal Native Infantry
- Register No.
- 14 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant (later Colonel) (register: Lieutenant) all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 13th Bengal Native Infantry all 13th Bengal Native Infantry VCs →
- Date of action
- 30 June 1857 to 22 November 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Indian Mutiny
- London Gazette
- 16th April 1863 on this day → all of 1863 →
- Born
- 14th April 1828 at Cupar, Fife, Scotland
- Died
- 18th Sept 1887 at St Andrews, Scotland
- Memorial / grave
- Cupar and St Andrews, Scotland
- Medal held by
- the National Army M<useum
Digest of citation
From 30 June to 22 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Lieutenant Aitken performed various acts of gallantry during the defence of the Residency. On one occasion when the enemy had set fire to the Bhoosa Stock in the garden, the lieutenant, and other officers, cut down all the tents in order to stop the fire spreading to the powder magazine which was there. This was done close to the enemy's loopholes under the bright light of the flames. Other exploits included saving the Baillie Guard Gate, taking the enemy guns and capturing the Fureed Buksh Palace
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
AITKEN, Robert Hope Moncrieff (Reg No. 14)
Lieutenant (later Colonel) 13th Bengal Native Infantry.
London Gazetted on 16th April 1863 VC Medal's Custodian is the National Army M<useum.
Born on 14th April 1828 at Cupar, Fife, Scotland.
Died on 18th Sept 1887 at St Andrews, Scotland Memorials at Cupar and St Andrews, Scotland.
Digest of Citation reads: From 30 June to 22 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, Lieutenant Aitken performed various acts of gallantry during the defence of the Residency. On one occasion when the enemy had set fire to the Bhoosa Stock in the garden, the lieutenant, and other officers, cut down all the tents in order to stop the fire spreading to the powder magazine which was there. This was done close to the enemy's loopholes under the bright light of the flames. Other exploits included saving the Baillie Guard Gate, taking the enemy guns and capturing the Fureed Buksh Palace.
Additional information: He also held the Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB)..
Additional information
He also held the Companion of (the Order of) the Bath (CB)..
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Cupar and St Andrews, Scotland
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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