THE OLDEST V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1919, Page 6

THE OLDEST V.C.

DEATH OF SIR JAMES HILLSJOHNES. Lieutenant-General Sir James HillsJohnes, V.C, G.C.8., died in England recently at his residence at Dolaucothy, South Wales, from the effects of influenza. He was 85, and was the oldest V.C. Sir James Hills-Johns was born on August 20, 1833, being one of the last of the Indian Mutiny veterans who won the Victoria Cross in that campaign. His father was the late James Hills, of Neechindipore, Bengal, and his mother was a daughter of Signor Angelo Savi, of Molsgunge. The early life of the General was passed in Scotland, where he received his education at the Edinburgh Academy, the Military College, Edinburgh, and subsequently at Addiscombe. He obtained a commission in the Bengal Artillery on June 11, 1553, and was one of those who, entering fresh into the politics of India, clearly saw the coming trouble with the Native Army. When the Mutiny arose he was serving with a Bengal Horse battery, and his first fights were the action on the Hindun and the battles of Budleekeserai and Nujjufghur. He took part, in the siege and storming of Delhi, where he was a comrade of Lord Roberts in the same division of Artillery, and on this historic field a friendship began between the two which lasted throughout their lives. • ©

EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY. Lieutenant Hills, for he did not assume the additional name of Johnes until late in life, behaved with conspicuous gallantry throughout the thirty odd actions that were fought in front of the city walls within a period of three months, and he received the Victoria Cross for a very courageous act. He was employed on picket in command of two Horse Artillery guns, when he received an order to advance under Escort of 80 cavalrymen. Riding well in front of his section, he was surprised by a body of the enemy, and, his own escort having turned aside, he was left unprotected in front of his limbercd-up guns. Without hesitation he charged into the ranks of the mutineers, firing his revolver, but. was rolled over by a hor=eman, and, on rising to his feet he attacked his assailants with his fists. He was cut down from behind. He was extricated by Captain Tombs, who joined him in the combat, and he used to tell how his life was saved by his folded military cloak, which, torn by sword thrusts, he always preserved. Both officers received the Victoria Cross for their gallant defence of the guns and Lieutenant Hills also received a brevet maiority. He recovered from hjs wound in tinfe to take part in the siege and capture of Lucknow, where he again was associated with Lord Roberts; he served also in the Rohilkund campaign, the taking of Bar'eilly, and the action of Mohumdee. Six years elapsed before the young officer again saw active service, when he was sent with the Eusofzai Expedition after serving as A.D.C. to the Viceroy, Lord Canning, and as Assistant Resident in Nepal. In 1867, when it was decided to send -a mortar battery to Abyssinia with the Expedition, Major Hills was selected for the command, and he used this ordnance efficiently at the capture of Magdala, where Lord Napier added to the list of mentions of his usefulness which the great leaders in the Mutiny Campaign had begun. Lieutenant-Colonel Hills had by this time fully established his reputation for high command, and in the Afghan war in 1873 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General to the Kandahar Field Force, with the rank of colonel, and subsequently joined Lord Robert's column in the Kurruin Valley and accompanied it to Kabul, where he became Military Governor of the city. He next commanded the 3rd Division of the Northern Afghanistan Field Force in ISBO, and he directed some brilliant cavalry work at Padkoa Shana. He was present at both Sherpur and Charasiab and in the defence of Kandahar, and as a major-general he received a vote of thanks from the Houses of Parliament after being thrice mentioned in dispatches. He was also created a K.C.B. on May 5, 1881, and was granted a distinguished service reward. In 1883, he was promoted lieutenant-gen-eral, and assumed by Royal licence the additional name and arms of Johnes, by reason of his marriage in the previous year with the co-heiress of the late John Johnes, of Dolaucothy, Carmar-1 thenshire. In 18S8 he retired, and he was promoted to be a G.C.B. in 1893. During his retirement his close friendship with Lord Roberts, whom he greatly resembled, continued, and when the latter left for South Africa, to assume command in the field, Sir James HillsJohnes accompanied him in a private capacity as a comrade, remaining in the field until the occupation of Pretoria.