James Leith (VC)

He rode into hostile infantry and rescued a trapped officer.

James Leith was born at Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire, on 26 May 1826, the son of General Alexander Leith. He was educated at Blackheath and Trinity College Cambridge, where he played cricket for the university. He entered the 14th Light Dragoons as a cornet in 1849 and served in the Persian expedition of 1856-57 before the regiment's operations in India.

During the uprising of 1857 he fought in central India and was wounded in the operations around Dhar. On 1 April 1858, at the battle of Betwa, Captain Arthur Need was cut off and surrounded by enemy infantry. Leith rode towards him alone and attacked the men threatening him. The intervention enabled Need to escape.

The action took place during the campaign against the forces associated with Jhansi. For deliberately entering the enemy formation to rescue another officer, Leith received the Victoria Cross. Queen Victoria presented it to him on 8 June 1859. His earlier service was represented by the India General Service Medal with the Persia clasp, and his fighting in India by the Indian Mutiny Medal with Central India.

Leith received brevet promotion to major in 1858 and left active regimental service on half pay in December 1861. In 1863 he became a member of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, the sovereign's ceremonial bodyguard. That appointment linked his later life to royal service after his years on campaign.

He married Isabella Shaw in September 1863, and they had two daughters. He died at Gloucester Place, London, on 13 May 1869, aged forty-two, and was buried at Towie in Aberdeenshire. His medals were preserved with the collections associated with the cavalry regiment that inherited the traditions of the 14th Light Dragoons.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery at Betwah, on the 1st of April, 1858, in having charged alone, and rescued Captain Need, of the same Regiment, when surrounded by a large number of rebel Infantry. Despatch from Major-General Sir Hugh Henry Rose, G.C.B., dated 28th April, 1858.

The London Gazette of 24 December 1858, Numb. 22212, p. 5517