Aylmer Cameron

He stormed a defended house and suffered a savage sword cut.

Aylmer Spicer Cameron VC CB led a small party into a strongly defended house at Kotah, India, on 30 March 1858. The narrow entrance exposed the attackers to close fighting. Cameron fought the defenders and received severe wounds, including a sword stroke that took away part of a hand. His conduct as a lieutenant in the 72nd Highlanders earned the Victoria Cross.

Born on 12 August 1833, Cameron entered the Army in 1852. He served in the Crimean War, including the siege of Sevastopol, before taking part in the Indian rebellion. Queen Victoria presented his Victoria Cross at Windsor in November 1860.

His injuries did not end his military career. He advanced to captain and later transferred to the 25th Regiment of Foot, subsequently the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. His service included instructional duties in India, a staff appointment in Canada and command of a battalion. He went on to work in military intelligence and became Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1886. That year he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Cameron retired in 1888 and lived in Hampshire with his family. He died at Alverstoke on 10 June 1909, aged 75, and was buried in St Mark’s churchyard, Highcliffe. He ended his service as a colonel.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery on the 30th of March, 1858, at Kotah, in having headed a small party of men, and attacked a body of armed fanatic rebels, strongly posted in a loop-holed house, with one narrow entrance. Lieutenant Cameron stormed the house, and killed three rebels in single combat. He was severely wounded, having lost half of one hand by a stroke from a tulwar.

The London Gazette of 11 November 1859, Numb. 22324, p. 4032