Hugh McInnes

His comrades chose him for bravery at the relief of Lucknow.

Hugh McInnes came from Anderston in Glasgow and worked as a cotton spinner before entering the East India Company's service in 1839. His father had served in the 79th Regiment. McInnes arrived in India in 1840 and became a gunner in the Bengal Artillery, beginning a military life that lasted more than two decades.

He served in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the fighting commemorated by the Chilianwala and Goojerat clasps. During the uprising of 1857 he remained with the Bengal Artillery and took part in the operations to reach the besieged British position at Lucknow.

From 14 to 22 November, Sir Colin Campbell's relief force fought through defended ground toward the Residency. The artillery supported a succession of attacks as the force opened a route through the city. Its work continued during the effort to bring the trapped soldiers and civilians out, rather than ending with the first contact with the garrison.

McInnes's Victoria Cross was an elected award under the warrant's thirteenth clause. His comrades selected him as one of the Bengal Artillery representatives for courage throughout the relief operations. The published citation recognises this sustained conduct over several days. It does not identify one particular rescue, gun position or assault as his personal deed.

His military career continued after the campaign. On 31 October 1860 he entered the European Invalid Battalion at Chunar. He received a pension on 17 October 1862, was discharged at Chunar on 15 February 1863, and completed his final discharge at Netley on 11 September 1863. He returned to Glasgow and worked as an engineering labourer.

McInnes married Helen Wilkinson in 1876. He died in Cathcart Street on 7 December 1879 and was buried in common ground at St Peter's Roman Catholic Cemetery, now Dalbeth. A memorial placed there in 2004 restored public recognition of his service and the comrades' choice that had brought him the Victoria Cross.