Herbert Clogstoun

Eight riders followed his charge into a much stronger force.

Herbert Mackworth Clogstoun was born at Port of Spain, Trinidad, on 13 June 1820. His father was a colonial customs official. He entered the Madras Army in 1838 and spent much of his early career with the 19th Madras Native Infantry. His service included the Burmese campaign for which he received the India General Service Medal with the Pegu clasp.

In 1856 he transferred to the 2nd Cavalry of the Hyderabad Contingent as second in command. He married Mary Julia Mackenzie in Madras that year, connecting his family with another generation of Indian Army service. The couple had children while his military career continued.

On 15 January 1859, Clogstoun was serving with Brigadier Hill’s Berar Field Force, searching for armed rebels in country near Hingoli. At Chichumbah, a force reported as about four hundred men was encountered. Clogstoun charged with only eight men of his regiment. The mounted party forced the rebels back into the town and compelled them to abandon their plunder.

The attack cost the small party heavily. Seven of the eight men accompanying him became casualties, and Clogstoun himself was severely wounded. His Victoria Cross citation emphasized the disparity in numbers and the result achieved despite those losses. The action took place after the main sieges of 1857-58, during the continuing military operations that followed the uprising.

Promoted major, he received his Victoria Cross at Madras in January 1860. He took command of his regiment in September 1861 but had little opportunity for a long senior career. He died at Hingoli on 6 May 1862, aged forty-one. His Victoria Cross and associated campaign medals were subsequently preserved by the National Army Museum.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery in charging the Rebels into Chichumbah with only eight men of his Regiment (the 2nd Cavalry Hyderabad Contingent), compelling them to re-enter the Town, and finally to abandon their plunder. He was severely wounded himself, and lost seven out of the eight men who accompanied him.

The London Gazette of 21 October 1859, Numb. 22318, p. 3792