Hugh Burgoyne

He landed under enemy fire to burn stores beyond naval cover

Hugh Talbot Burgoyne was born in Dublin in July 1833, the son of the military engineer John Fox Burgoyne. He entered the Royal Navy in 1847 and served as a lieutenant during the Crimean War. His early career took him into both the Baltic and the Black Sea operations.

On 29 May 1855, Burgoyne was senior lieutenant of HMS Swallow during operations in the Sea of Azov. With Lieutenant Cecil Buckley of HMS Miranda and Gunner John Robarts of HMS Ardent, he volunteered to land near Genitchi, where a substantial Russian force was present. The three men went ashore to destroy supplies supporting the enemy army.

Under fire and without a covering force able to protect them on land, they set fire to stores and withdrew to their boat. The destruction deprived the Russian forces of important material. All three were awarded the Victoria Cross. Burgoyne attended the first presentation of the decoration by Queen Victoria at Hyde Park in June 1857.

His naval career continued with promotion and ship commands. By 1870 he was captain of HMS Captain, an experimental low-freeboard turret ship that combined heavy armament with a sailing rig. The vessel’s design had generated considerable controversy over stability and seaworthiness. Burgoyne took her to sea with the fleet as the Navy assessed the new type.

On the night of 6-7 September 1870, Captain capsized in severe weather off Cape Finisterre. Burgoyne died with most of the men aboard. His body was not recovered, and the family memorial at Brompton Cemetery records his loss rather than a burial there. He was also commemorated with the ship’s officers and crew at St Paul’s Cathedral. The disaster ended the career of a decorated officer and became a major episode in the history of Victorian naval design.

Official citation

Lord Lyons writes:–“As Senior Lieutenant of the ‘Swallow,’ this Officer landed with Lieutenant Buckley, and Mr. J. Roberts, Gunner, in presence of a superior force, and set fire to the stores at Genitchi, a service of imminent risk.” (Despatch from Admiral Lord Lyons, 2nd June, 1855, No. 419.) N.B.–This service has been previously described in the preceding notice of Lieutenant Buckley’s services.