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John Augustus Wood

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Allegiance
  
Name
  
John Wood

Died
  
January 23, 1878, Pune

Rank
  
Awards
  
Service/branch
  
Role
  
Armed force officer

Place of burial
  
Pune

Unit
  
120th Rajputana Infantry

John Augustus Wood
Buried at
  
St Mary's Churchyard, Poona

Battles/wars
  
Anglo-Persian WarIndian Mutiny

Battles and wars
  
Anglo-Persian War, Indian Rebellion of 1857

Colonel John Augustus Wood VC (10 June 1818 – 23 January 1878) was a Scottish 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.

Contents

Details

Wood was 38 years old, and a captain in the 20th Bombay Native Infantry, Bombay Army during the Persian War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 December 1856 at Bushire, Persia, Captain Wood led a Grenadier Company which formed the head of the assaulting column and was the first man on the parapet of the fort, where he was immediately attacked by a large number of the garrison. A volley was fired at Captain Wood and the head of the storming party at very close range but although the captain was hit by seven musket balls he at once threw himself upon the enemy, killing their leader. He was closely followed by the men of his company and speedily overcame all opposition.

His was the first Victoria Cross to be won in a British Indian regiment and the standard captured that day is still preserved by the battalion.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of colonel. His VC is held by the 2 Rajputana Rifles regiment of the Indian Army. He died on 23 January 1878 aged 59.

References

John Augustus Wood Wikipedia


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