John Adam Tytler

He rode alone towards enemy guns to rally wavering soldiers.

John Adam Tytler was born at Monghyr in Bengal on 29 October 1825, the son of an army surgeon. He spent part of his childhood in Jersey and attended Edinburgh Academy before entering the Bengal Army in 1844. His service with the 66th Bengal Native Infantry led into the regiment's reorganisation with Gurkha soldiers, and he became closely associated with the unit later known as the 4th Gurkhas.

He served on the north-west frontier and became adjutant in 1853. On 10 February 1858 at Choorpoorah, troops advancing against enemy guns began to hesitate. Tytler rode ahead alone towards the battery, calling on the men to follow. He was wounded in the arm and chest but continued to set an example at the point where the advance was in danger of stopping. The guns were taken.

His Victoria Cross recognised this deliberate exposure in order to rally the attack. In June 1858 he married Adelaide Ross at Naini Tal; they had five daughters. His military career continued through the Umbeyla and later frontier operations, including Hazara and the Lushai expedition. He became a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1872.

During the Second Afghan War he commanded a brigade in the Peshawar Valley Field Force. His troops took part in the operations at Ali Musjid, and he subsequently held responsibility for communications along the army's route. Illness forced him away temporarily in 1879, but he returned to command with the Kohat Field Force.

Tytler died of pneumonia at Thal on 14 February 1880 and was buried at Kohat. His papers and medals were preserved by his family and later associated with the Gurkha Museum, providing evidence of a career that extended from early frontier service through the Indian uprising to the Afghan campaign.

Official Victoria Cross citation

On the attacking parties approaching the enemy’s position under a heavy fire of round shot, grape, and musketry, on the occasion of the Action at Choorpoorah, on the 10th February last, Lieutenant Tytler dashed on horseback ahead of all, and alone, up to the enemy’s guns, where he remained engaged hand to hand, until they were carried by us; and where he was shot through the left arm, had a spear wound in his chest, and a ball through the right sleeve of his coat. (Letter from Captain C. C. G. Ross, Commanding 66th (Goorkha) Regiment, to Captain Brownlow, Major of Brigade, Kemaon Field Force.)