Henry William Pitcher

Led repeated attacks on a defended picket despite his wounds

Henry William Pitcher was born at Kamptee in India on 20 December, into a family connected with the Madras cavalry. His father died while Henry was young. Pitcher was educated at Christ's Hospital in London and Victoria College, Jersey, before obtaining a commission in 1857. He reached India during the uprising and served with the 79th Regiment, including operations at Lucknow.

He subsequently joined the Punjab frontier forces. His early appointments included adjutant and staff duties, and he participated in expeditions against the Kabul Khel and Mahsud Waziris. This service gave him experience of the difficult hill country where he would later earn the Victoria Cross.

During the Umbeyla campaign in 1863, British troops faced determined attacks against exposed hilltop positions. Pitcher distinguished himself in the struggle for the Crag Picket on 30 October and 13 November. He led men forward against the defended position and continued fighting despite wounds. His example helped sustain the attacks during a campaign in which movement along the valleys remained threatened by opponents occupying the surrounding heights.

The Victoria Cross was announced in July 1864. Pitcher continued serving with the Punjab Frontier Force rather than leaving the Army after his wounds. He took leave in Britain and married Emilie Selina Augusta Chapman at Bathwick in January 1866 before returning to India.

He advanced to captain in July 1869 and held appointments as second in command and acting commandant of his regiment. Further leave brought him home in 1872, but he returned to frontier duty in 1874. By February 1875 he was officiating commandant of the 1st Infantry, Punjab Frontier Force, at Dera Ghazi Khan. He died there on 5 July 1875. His grave marker was later moved after flooding damaged the cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For the daring and gallant manner in which, in the course of the recent operations against the Frontier Tribes, on the 30th October, 1863, he led a party of his Regiment to re-capture the Crag Picket, after its garrison had been driven in by the enemy; on which occasion sixty of them were killed in desperate hand to hand fighting. From the nature of the approach to the top of the Crag amongst the large rocks, one or two men only could advance at one time; “and while I ascended one path,” relates Major Keyes, commanding the 1st Punjab Infantry, “I directed Lieutenant Fosbery, of the late 4th European Regiment, to push up another, at the head of a few men. He led this party with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and was the first man to gain the top of the Crag, on his side of the attack. Lieutenant Pitcher, equally cool and daring, led a party of men up to the last rock, until he was knocked down and stunned by a large stone thrown from above, within a few yards of him.” Lieutenant Pitcher also displayed great gallantry in leading on a party of his Regiment to endeavour to recover the Crag Picket, when it again fell into the enemy’s hands, on the 13th of November, as related in the following extract from Major Keyes’ report of the 16th of that month; “The duty of leading the first charge devolved upon Lieutenant Pitcher, and I beg to bring to the special notice of the Brigadier-General Commanding, the admirable manner in which he performed this important duty. He was by many yards the foremost of his party, and the gallant bearing of this excellent young Officer was the admiration of all spectators. It is impossible to say too much, or to over-rate his services on this occasion. Lieutenant Pitcher was severely wounded, and was obliged to be carried back.

The London Gazette of 19 July 1864, Numb. 22876, p. 3618