Henry Lysons

Charged a cave and drove its defenders from their stronghold

Henry Lysons was a lieutenant in the 90th Regiment and aide-de-camp to Sir Evelyn Wood during the Anglo-Zulu War. On 28 March 1879, at Hlobane Mountain, defenders in natural caves were firing on British troops and ground where wounded soldiers lay.

Wood ordered the caves cleared. Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell went forward, followed by Lysons and Private Edmond Fowler. Their route passed over boulders and between rocks so narrow that they had to advance in single file. Campbell reached the entrance first and was killed.

Lysons and Fowler immediately pressed the attack. They fired into the passages below and forced the defenders from the cave. Lysons stayed at its mouth while Campbell's body was carried down the slope. Both survivors received the Victoria Cross, announced in April 1882.

Born at Morden, Surrey, in July 1858, Lysons was the son of General Sir Daniel Lysons. He later served with the Egyptian Army during the Nile expedition of 1884–85. His regiment became the 2nd Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He rose to brevet colonel and was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Lysons died on 24 July 1907 and was buried at Rodmarton, Gloucestershire. His Victoria Cross and campaign medals are preserved in the Cameronians collection at Low Parks Museum, Hamilton.

Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette, 7 April 1882:

Lieutenant Henry Lysons, 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), and Private Edmond Fowler (since discharged).

On the 28th March, 1879, during the assault of the Inhlobane Mountain, Sir Evelyn Wood ordered the dislodgment of certain Zulus (who were causing the Troops much loss) from strong natural caves commanding the position in which some of the wounded were lying. Some delay occurring in the execution of the orders issued, Captain the Honourable Ronald Campbell, Coldstream Guards, followed by Lieutenant Lysons, Aide-de-Camp, and Private Fowler, ran forward in the most determined manner, and advanced over a mass of fallen boulders, and between walls of rock, which led to a cave in which the enemy lay hidden. It being impossible for two men to walk abreast, the assailants were consequently obliged to keep in single file, and as Captain Campbell was leading, he arrived first at the mouth of the cave, from which the Zulus were firing, and there met his death. Lieutenant Lysons and Private Fowler, who were following close behind him, immediately dashed at the cave, from which led several subterranean passages, and firing into the chasm below, succeeded in forcing the occupants to forsake their stronghold. Lieutenant Lysons remained at the cave's mouth for some minutes after the attack, during which time Captain Campbell's body was carried down the slopes.