Robert Shebbeare

He twice led the Guides against a wall of deadly rifle fire.

Robert Haydon Shebbeare was born at Clapham, London, in January 1827 and educated at King's College School. He went to India as a young cadet and served with the 60th Bengal Native Infantry. After the regiment mutinied in 1857, he joined the Corps of Guides and commanded its infantry during the siege of Delhi.

On 14 September 1857, Shebbeare led the Guides with the fourth assault column. He twice charged toward the enemy's defended wall, but the fire was too strong to reach the breach. With heavy casualties preventing a renewed attack, he attempted to reorganize the men and then successfully conducted the rearguard withdrawal across the canal. He left the fighting with wounds to his head and cheek. His courage earned the Victoria Cross.

After recovering, he raised the 15th Punjab Pioneers, a regiment of Mazhabi Sikhs. He accompanied it to China in 1860, but severe illness interrupted his service. Ordered home, he died at sea on 16 September 1860, before he could return to his family.

Official citation (excerpt)

"He then conducted the rear-guard of the retreat across the canal most successfully."