Aylmer Cameron

Colonel Aylmer Spicer Cameron VC CB (12 August 1833 – 10 June 1909[1]) was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.[2]

Aylmer Spicer Cameron
Born12 August 1833
Perth, Scotland
Died10 June 1909 (aged 75)
Alverstoke, Hampshire
Buried
St Mark's Churchyard, Highcliffe
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankColonel
Unit72nd Highlanders
King's Own Scottish Borderers
Commands heldRoyal Military College, Sandhurst
Battles/warsCrimean War
Indian Mutiny
Awards Victoria Cross
Order of the Bath
RelationsGeneral Sir William Gordon Cameron (brother)
Cecil Aylmer Cameron (son)

Life

Cameron was born in Perth on 12 August 1833 into a military family. He was the son of Colonel William Gordon Cameron, Grenadier Guards, and grandson of General William Neville Cameron of the East India Company's service. He had four brothers in the Army and Navy, including General Sir William Gordon Cameron. Four of his five sons served in the armed forces,[3] including Major Cecil Aylmer Cameron. His daughter, Esme Gordon, married Vice Admiral Joseph Charles Walrond Henley, CB.[4]

Aylmer Cameron was commissioned as an Ensign in the 72nd Highlanders, British Army, on 9 July 1852,[5] and promoted to Lieutenant in August 1854.[6] He took part in the Crimean War and was present at the siege of Sebastopol in 1855, before going to India after the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857.[3]

VC action

Cameron was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the 72nd Highlanders during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 30 March 1858 at Kotah, India for which he was awarded the VC:

For conspicuous bravery on the 30th of March, 1858, at Kotah, in having headed a small party of men, and attacked a body of armed fanatic rebels, strongly posted in a loop-holed house, with one narrow entrance. Lieutenant Cameron stormed the house, and killed three rebels in single combat. He was severely wounded, having lost half of one hand by a stroke from a tulwar.[7]

In addition to receiving the VC, for his services in India Cameron was twice mentioned in dispatches[8][9] and, in December 1859, was promoted to captain.[10]

Later service

In June 1871 Cameron was promoted to major in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (25th Foot),[11] becoming a lieutenant-colonel in October 1877[12] and colonel in July 1881.[13] He served as a staff officer in Canada from 1879 to 1881,[3] and commanded the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers from July 1881[14] to 1883. He was chief of the Intelligence Branch at Army Headquarters from 1883 to 1886, and Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 1886 to 1888.[3][15] He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in May 1886,[16] and retired in August 1888.[17]

He died, after a long period of ill-health, on 10 June 1909 aged 75,[3] and is buried in St Mark's Churchyard, Highcliffe, Dorset.[18]

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of Queens Own Highlanders in Fort George, Highland, Scotland.[18]

References
  1. "Colonel Aylmer Spicer Cameron, V.C., C.B.: 72nd Highlanders". British Medals. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. Macdonald, James Simon (1908). Annals: North British Society: Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax, Nova Scotia: McAlpine Publishing Company. p. 599.
  3. Obituary of Aylmer Cameron. The Times, 12 June 1909, page 11.
  4. tombstone in Waterperry church
  5. The Edinburgh Gazette, "No. 6194", 13 July 1852. p. 600.
  6. "No. 21589". The London Gazette. 1 September 1854. p. 2701.
  7. "No. 22324". The London Gazette. 19 June 1860. p. 4032.
  8. "No. 22152". The London Gazette. 11 June 1858. p. 2864.
  9. "No. 22272". The London Gazette. 10 June 1859. p. 2266.
  10. "No. 22336". The London Gazette. 13 December 1859. p. 4712.
  11. "No. 23748". The London Gazette. 20 June 1871. p. 2848.
  12. "No. 24508". The London Gazette. 2 October 1877. p. 5462.
  13. "No. 24999". The London Gazette. 26 July 1881. p. 3682.
  14. "No. 25096". The London Gazette. 18 April 1882. p. 1739.
  15. Army Navy Air Force.co.uk: Seaforth Highlanders
  16. "No. 25592". The London Gazette. 29 May 1886. p. 2633.
  17. "No. 25852". The London Gazette. 4 September 1888. p. 4736.
  18. Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross
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