THE NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM IN LONDON AS RECENTLY ACQUIRED THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO CAPTAIN JOHN MALCOLMSON, 3RD BOMBAY LIGHT CAVALRY. |
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5 February 2018 |
The Victoria Cross group awarded to Captain John Malcolmson, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry, has recently been gifted to the National Army Museum in London. The donor, who declined to be named, is a direct descendant of Malcolmson and has been in charge of the family heirlooms for the past 30 years. The VC and campaign medals have been kept in a bank for safe-keeping. The donor stated "I felt that all the memorabilia, the VC, Desanges painting, sword, pistols etc. should stay together and I have thought about it for 30 years and I have finally got around to making a decision on the donation to the National Army Museum". For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 3 August 1860 ], Battle of Koosh ab, Persia, 8 February 1857, Lieutenant John Grant Malcolmson and Lieutenant Arthur Thomas Moore, 3rd Bombay Light Cavalry.
On the occasion of an attack on the enemy led by Lieutenant Colonel Forbes, CB, Lieutenant Moore the Adjutant of the regiment, was perhaps the first of all by a horse's length. His horse lept into the Persian square and instantly fell dead, crashing down his rider and breaking his sword as he fell amid the broken ranks of the enemy. Lieutenant Moore speedily extricated himself and attempted with his broken sword to force his way through the press; but he would assuredly have lost his life had not the gallant young Lieutenant Malcolmson, observing his peril, fought his way to his dismounted comrade through a crowd of enemies, to his rescue, and giving him his stirrup, safely carried him through everything out of the throng.
John Malcolmson was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on the 9th November 1860.
John Malcolmson died in London on the 14th August 1902 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery. |
Iain Stewart, 5 February 2018