Victoria Cross: H. W. Pitcher and G. V. Fosbery

HENRY WILLIAM PITCHER

Lieutenant, 4th Punjab Infantry, Bengal Staff Corps

Born: 20 December 1841, Bath, Somerset
Died: 5 July 1875, Dehra Ghazi Khan, India

Citation: For the daring and gallant manner in which, in the course of the recent operations against the Frontier Tribes, on the 30th October, 1863, he led a party of his Regiment to re-capture the Crag Picket, after its garrison had been driven in by the enemy; on which occasion sixty of them were killed in desperate hand to hand fighting.
From the nature of the approach to the top of the Crag, amongst the large rocks, one or two men only could advance at one time; "and while I ascended one path," relates Major Keyes, commanding the 1st Punjab Infantry, "I directed Lieutenant Fosbery, of the late 4th European Regiment, to push up another, at the head of a few men. He led this party with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and was the first man to gain the top of the Crag, on his side of the attack. Lieutenant Pitcher, equally cool and daring, led a party of men up to the last rock, until he was knocked down and stunned by a large stone thrown from above, within a few yards of him."
Lieutenant Pitcher also displayed great gallantry in leading on a party of his Regiment to endeavour to recover the Crag Picket, when it again fell into the enemy's hands, on the 13th of November, as related in the following extract from Major Keyes' report of the 16th of that month;
"The duty of leading the first charge devolved upon Lieutenant Pitcher, and I beg to bring to the special notice of the Brigadier-General Commanding, the admirable manner in which he performed this important duty. He was by many yards the foremost of his party, and the gallant bearing of this excellent young Officer was the admiration of all spectators. It is impossible to say too much, or to over-rate his services on this occasion. Lieutenant Pitcher was severely wounded, and was obliged to be carried back."

[London Gazette issue 22876 dtd 19 Jul 1864, published 19 Jul 1864.]



GEORGE VINCENT FOSBERY

Lieutenant, 4th Bengal European Regiment, British Indian Army

Born: 11 April 1832, Stert, Wiltshire
Died: 8 May 1907, Bath, Somerset

Citation: For the daring and gallant manner in which, on the 30th of October, 1863, acting as a Volunteer at the time, he led a party of his Regiment to re-capture the Crag Picquet, after its garrison had been driven in by the enemy, on which occasion sixty of them were killed in desperate hand to hand fighting.
From the nature of the approach to the top of the Crag, amongst the large rocks, one or two men only could advance at one time; and "whilst I ascended one path," relates Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes, C.B., commanding the 1st Punjab Infantry, "I directed Lieutenant Fosbery, of the late 4th European Regiment, to push up another at the head of a few men. He led this party with the greatest coolness and intrepidity, and was the first man to gain the top of the Crag on his side of the attack."
Subsequently, Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes being wounded, Lieutenant Fosbery assembled a party with which he pursued the routed enemy in the direction of the Lalloo ridge, inflicting on them further loss and confirming possession of the post.

[London Gazette issue 22988 dated 7 Jul 1865, published 7 Jul 1865.]


Note: Fosbery was the inventor of the Paradox rifle/shotgun, and also of a self-cocking revolver, which was manufactured by the Webley & Scott Revolver & Arms Company.