John Charles Campbell Daunt

He charged rebel guns and led a pursuit despite grave wounds

John Charles Campbell Daunt (1832–1886) was an officer of the Bengal Army whose Victoria Cross recognized two actions during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Born at Avranches in Normandy, France, he entered the Bengal Native Infantry as an ensign in 1852 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1857. He later rose to colonel and served in both India and China.

On October 2, 1857, at Chota Behar, Daunt and Sergeant Denis Dynon attacked two guns captured by mutineers of the Ramgurh Battalion. The guns were firing grapeshot into the British detachment, which had already suffered heavy casualties. Daunt and Dynon rushed the final gun, shot its gunners with their pistols, and seized it. The Victoria Cross recommendation also described Daunt’s conduct a month later, on November 2. He pursued mutineers of the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry with a small party of Rattray’s Sikhs, then followed them into cultivated ground and was dangerously wounded while attempting to dislodge a larger force from an enclosure. The dispatch credited his gallantry with helping preserve many of his men.

The award was gazetted in 1862, nearly five years after the actions. Daunt subsequently served in China, entered the Bengal Police Department, and continued his military career to the rank of colonel. He died in Bristol on April 15, 1886, aged 53.

### Victoria Cross citation

“Lieutenant Daunt and Serjeant Dynon are recommended for conspicuous gallantry in action, on the 2nd of October, 1857, with the Mutineers of the Ramgurh Battalion at Chota Behar, in capturing two guns, particularly the last, when they rushed at and captured it by pistolling the gunners, who were mowing the detachment down with grape, one-third of which were hors de combat at the time.

“Lieutenant Daunt is also recommended for chasing, on the 2nd of November following, the Mutineers of the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry across a plain into a rich cultivation, into which he followed them with a few of Rattray’s Sikhs. He was dangerously wounded in the attempt to drive out a large body of these Mutineers from an enclosure, the preservation of many of his party, on this occasion, being attributed to his gallantry.”

### Sources

- The London Gazette, no. 22601, February 25, 1862, p. 957, Victoria Cross notice for Lieutenant John Daunt and Sergeant Denis Dynon. - Noonans Mayfair, “Lot 267, 2 July 2003,” medal-group catalogue entry and historical note for John Charles Campbell Daunt. - John Daunt, “John Charles Campbell Daunt VC,” Victoria Cross Online, biographical account.