THE IMPRESSIVE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO MAJOR GENERAL SIR HENRY TOMBS, BENGAL HORSE ARTILLERY, HAVE BEEN SOLD AT A DIX NOONAN WEBB AUCTION IN LONDON.
6 December 2017


( select to enlarge )		 Medal entitlement of Major General Sir Henry Tombs,
Bengal Horse Artillery

  • Victoria Cross
  • Knight Commander, Order of the Bath ( KCB )
  • Gwalior Campaign Star ( 1843 )
    • "Punniar Star"
  • Sutlej Medal ( 1845-46 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Forezeshuhur" - "Aliwal"
  • Punjab Medal ( 1848-49 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Chilianwala" - "Goojerat"
  • Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 )
    • 2 clasps:
    • "Delhi" - "Lucknow"
  • India General Service Medal ( 1854-95 )
    • 21 clasp:
    • "Bhootan"

The impressive Victoria Cross and many campaign medals awarded to Major General Sir Henry Tombs, Bengal Horse Artilly, have been sold at a Dix Noonan Webb auction on the 6th December 2017. The estimated sale price was between £200,000 and £250,000. The VC group had originally been on loan to the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, now closed.

The sale hammer price realised £240,000. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 27 April 1858 ], Delhi, Indian Mutiny, 9 July 1857, Major Henry Tombs, Bengal Horse Artillery.(*)

For very gallant conduct on the part of Lieutenant Hills before Delhi, in defending the position assigned to him in case of alarm, and for noble behaviour on the part of Lieutenant Colonel Tombs in twice coming to his subaltern’s rescue, and on each occasion killing his man.

( See despatch of Lieutenant Colonel Mackenzie, Commanding 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, dated Camp, near Delhi, 10th July 1857, published in the Supplement to the London Gazette of the 16th January 1858 )

(*) Gazetted as Lieutenant Colonel, CB.

Henry Tombs was invested with his Victoria Cross in India in 1858. ( By whom and where in India is not known ).

Henry Tombs died on the 2nd August 1874 at Newport, Isle of Wight, and was buried in the Island's Carisbrooke Cemetery.

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Iain Stewart, 6 December 2017