A HEADSTONE HAS BEEN ERECTED OVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNMARKED GRAVE OF PRIVATE ROBERT HUMPSTON VC, 2ND BN, THE RIFLE BRIGADE, IN NOTTINGHAM GENERAL CEMETERY.
8 September 2007



Private Robert Humpston VC, 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade, died at his home in Nottingham on 22nd December 1884 and was buried four days later in an unmarked grave in the Nottingham General Cemetery. This is where Robert Humpston was to lay unrecognised until local man Tony Higton took an interest. Mr Higton is a member of the Western Front Association and his interest in the Victoria Cross began after visiting the battlefields of Northern France.

Tony Higton decided to do something about Robert Humpston's unmarked grave and started raising funds for a headstone, first gaining approval from Nottingham City Council for the project to go ahead. The culmination was a ceremony held in Nottingham's General Cemetery on Saturday, 8th September 2007, to unveil and dedicate a new headstone to Robert Humpston VC.

Over a hundred people gathered in the cemetery, including two direct descendants of Robert Humpston, to pay their respects to this hero of the Crimean War. The service was conducted by retired Army Padre Reverend Douglas Dennis and a bugler was provided by Nottingham High School. A representative from the Royal Green Jackets, 12 banners of the Royal British Legion, the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and the Lady Mayor of Rushcliffe Borough were in attendance. Eighty members of the public also attended the ceremony which was covered by BBC East Midlands TV News.

For the award of the Victoria Cross.

[ London Gazette, 24 February 1857 ], Sebastopol, Crimean War, 22 April 1855, Private Robert Humpston, 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade. ( and Private Joseph Bradshaw, 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade )

A Russian Rifle Pit, situated among the rocks overhanging the Woronzoff Road, between the 3rd parallel, Right Attack, and the Quarries ( at that period in the possession of the enemy ) was occupied every night by the Russians, and their Riflemen commanded a portion of the Left Attack, and impeded the work in a new battery then being erected on the extreme right front of the 2nd parallel, Left Attack.

It was carried in daylight on the 22nd of April 1855, by two riflemen, one of whom was Private Humpston; He received a gratuity of £5 and was promoted. The Rifle Pit was subsequently destroyed on further support being obtained.

Robert Humpston and Joseph Bradshaw were invested with their Victoria Crosses by Queen Victoria in Hyde Park on the 26th June 1857.

Medal entitlement of Private Robert Humpston - 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade

  • Victoria Cross
  • Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • 'Alma' - 'Sebastopol'
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • 'Lucknow' - 'Central India'
  • Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )

Medal entitlement of Private Joseph Bradshaw - 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade

  • Victoria Cross
  • Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 )
    • 3 clasps:
    • 'Alma' - 'Inkermann' - 'Sebastopol'
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • 'Lucknow' - 'Central India'
  • Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal
  • Medaille Militaire ( France )
  • Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 )

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Iain Stewart, 10 September 2007