William Spottiswoode Trevor
Major, Bengal Engineers. Indian Army
- Register No.
- 1230 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Major all Majors →
- 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
- 9th October 1831 in India
- Died
- 2nd November 1907 at 11, Queen's Mansions, Victoria Street,
- Memorial / grave
- at Kensal Green Cemetery, London
- Medal held by
- the Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur
Digest of citation
On 30th April 1865, after the retirement of the main body of the rebels, a party of them, between 180 and 200, barricaded themselves into a Blockhouse at Dewken-Giri, Bhootan, India, which they continued to defend after the position had been carried. This loop-holed Blockhouse was the critical point of the enemy's position. Following the orders of the general commanding, Major General Tombs VC., CB., seeing that no other storming officers were close by, he ordered Major Trevor and Lieutenant Dundas to find a way into the Blockhouse. They had to climb 15 ft up a ladder and enter through an opening about 2 ft wide between the top of the wall and the roof of the Blockhouse. Major Trevor told the Sikh soldiers, in Hindustani, to climb the wall. They showed no desire to respond. When Major Trevor and Lieutenant Dundas showed them the way, they responded immediately, following the officers with great alacrity. Both officers were wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
TREVOR, William Spottiswoode. (reg No. 1230).
Major. Bengal Engineers. Indian Army.
London Gazetted on 31st December 1867.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Royal Engineers Museum, Prince Arthur Road, Gillingham, Kent.
Born on 9th October 1831 in India.
Died on 2nd November 1907 at 11, Queen's Mansions, Victoria Street, London, aged 76.
Memorial on grave at Kensal Green Cemetery, London.
Digest of Citation reads: On 30th April 1865, after the retirement of the main body of the rebels, a party of them, between 180 and 200, barricaded themselves into a Blockhouse at Dewken-Giri, Bhootan, India, which they continued to defend after the position had been carried. This loop-holed Blockhouse was the critical point of the enemy's position. Following the orders of the general commanding, Major General Tombs VC., CB., seeing that no other storming officers were close by, he ordered Major Trevor and Lieutenant Dundas to find a way into the Blockhouse. They had to climb 15 ft up a ladder and enter through an opening about 2 ft wide between the top of the wall and the roof of the Blockhouse. Major Trevor told the Sikh soldiers, in Hindustani, to climb the wall. They showed no desire to respond. When Major Trevor and Lieutenant Dundas showed them the way, they responded immediately, following the officers with great alacrity. Both officers were wounded.
Additional:. Major-General Trevor was the son of Captain Robert S. Trevor of the Bengal Cavalry. He was born and brought up in India, as one of seven children. At the age of 10, William was taken, along with his mother and his six other siblings and many others, captive by Akhbar Khan. They were freed by a force sent by Sir George Pollock in order to avenge the assassination of the British envoy, Sir William McNaghton.
Additional information
Major-General Trevor was the son of Captain Robert S. Trevor of the Bengal Cavalry. He was born and brought up in India, as one of seven children. At the age of 10, William was taken, along with his mother and his six other siblings and many others, captive by Akhbar Khan. They were freed by a force sent by Sir George Pollock in order to avenge the assassination of the British envoy, Sir William McNaghton.
Road, Gillingham, Kent.
London, aged 76.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Kensal Green Cemetery, London
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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