Andrew Cathcart Bogle

He led an assault into a fortified house under intense fire.

Andrew Cathcart Bogle was a Scottish officer of the 78th Highlanders who received the Victoria Cross for an assault at Oonao during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Born in Glasgow on 20 January 1829, he attended Cheltenham College and entered the regiment as an ensign in December 1849. He became a lieutenant in 1853 and served in the Persian campaign before joining Major General Henry Havelock’s advance toward Lucknow.

On 29 July 1857, Bogle led the way into a strongly defended house whose firing openings allowed its occupants to harass the regiment’s advance. He was severely wounded during the assault.

Victoria Cross citation

London Gazette, 2 September 1859:

“For conspicuous gallantry, in the attack on Oonao, in leading the way into a loop-holed house strongly occupied by the enemy, from which a heavy fire harassed the advance of his regiment. Captain Bogle was severely wounded in this important service.”

Queen Victoria presented his cross at Windsor Castle on 4 January 1860. Bogle later served in other infantry regiments, reached major and retired in 1868. He died at Sherborne, Dorset, on 11 December 1890. After cremation, his ashes were interred in St Lawrence’s Churchyard, Effingham, Surrey. His Victoria Cross is held by the Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George.