THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION HAS ACQUIRED THREE VICTORIA CROSSES AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF THE 2ND DRAGOON GUARDS ( THE QUEEN'S BAYS ).
23 January 2018

The Lord Ashcroft VC Collection has acquired three Victoria Crosses awarded to members of 2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ). The VCs are not accompanied by the Indian Mutiny Medal.

The VCs had previously been on display in the 1st, Queen's Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum in Cardiff Castle.



Medal entitlement of Captain Robert Blair,
2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ) )

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Delhi"

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 18 June 1858 ], Bolundshadur, Indian Mutiny, 28 September 1857, Lieutenant Robert Blair, 2nd Dragoon Guards ( att'd 9th ( Queen's Royal ) Lancers ).

A most gallant feat was here performed by Lieutenant Blair, who was ordered to take a party of one serjeant and twelve men and bring in a deserted ammunition waggon. As his party approached, a body of fifty or sixty of the enemy’s horse came down upon him, from a village, where they had remained unobserved; without a moment’s hesitation he formed up his men, and, regardless of the odds, gallantly led them on, dashing through the rebels.

He made good his retreat without losing a man, leaving nine of them dead on the field. Of these he killed four himself, but, to my regret, after having run a native officer through the body with his sword, he was severely wounded, the joint of his shoulder being nearly severed.

( Despatch from Major General James Hope Grant KCB, dated 10th January 1858 )

Robert Blair was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Portsmouth on the 2nd August 1858

Ropbert Blair died from smallpox on the 28th March 1859 and was buried in the Old British Cemetery, Cawnpore. His grave is unmarked.


Medal entitlement of Private Charles Anderson,
2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ) )

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 11 November 1862 ], near Sundeela, Oudh, Indian Mutiny, 8 October 1858, Private Charles Anderson & Trumpeter Thomas Monaghan, 2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ).

For saving the life of Lieutenant Colonel Seymour CB, commanding the regiment, in an attack made on him on the 8th of October 1858, by mutinous sepoys, in a dense jungle of sugar canes, from which an attempt was made to dislodge them.

The mutineers were between 30 and 40 in number. They suddenly opened fire on Lieutenant Colonel Seymour and his party at a few yards distance, and immediately afterwards rushed in upon them with drawn ( native ) swords. Pistolling a man, cutting at him, and emptying with deadly effect at arm’s length every barrel of his revolver, Lieutenant Colonel Seymour was cut down by two sword cuts, when the two men above recommended, rushed to his rescue, and the trumpeter shooting a man with his pistol in the act of cutting at him, and both Trumpeter and Dragoon driving at the enemy with their swords, enabled him to arise, and assist in defending himself again, when the whole of the enemy were dispatched.

The occurrence took place soon after the action fought near Sundeela, Oudh, on the date above-mentioned.

Charles Anderson was invested with his Victoria Cross by CinC India, Sir Hugh Rose, Benares, India, on the 5th January 1863.

Charles Anderson died on the 19th April 1899 at Seaham Harbour, Co Durham, and was buried in the town's Princess Road Cemetery.


Medal entitlement of Trumpeter Thomas Monaghan,
2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ) )

  • Victoria Cross
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 1 clasp:
    • "Lucknow"

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 11 November 1862 ], near Sundeela, Oudh, Indian Mutiny, 8 October 1858, Trumpeter Thomas Monaghan & Private Charles Anderson, 2nd Dragoon Guards ( The Queen's Bays ).

For Thomas Monaghan's London Gazette VC citation see Private Charles Anderson above.

Thomas Monaghan was invested with his Victoria Cross by CinC India, Sir Hugh Rose, Benares, India, on the 5th January 1863.

Thomas Monaghan died on the 10th November 1895 in Woolwich, South East London, and was buried in Woolwich Cemetery.

Acquisitions

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Iain Stewart, 23 January 2018