Arthur George Hammond (VC, KCB, DSO was an English 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. Military Badge of the Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. ... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly other Commonwealth countries, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion... Victoria Cross, Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. ... The English noun Commonwealth dates originally from the fifteenth century and in different contexts indicates one of: a nation, state or political unit a state founded on law by agreement of the people for the common good a republic a federated union of constituent states. ...

Details

He was 36 years old, and a Captain in the Bengal Staff Corps, Indian Army during the Second Afghan War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Captain is both a nautical term and a military rank. ... The Indian Army is the army of the Republic of India. ... ...

On 14 December 1879 at the action on the Asmai Heights, near Kabul, Afghanistan, Captain Hammond defended the top of the hill with a rifle and fixed bayonet against large numbers of the enemy, while the 72nd Highlanders and Guides were retiring. Again, on the retreat down the hill he stopped and helped to carry a wounded sepoy, the enemy being only 60 yards off and firing heavily all the time. 8bit 300dpi Scanned Image of VC Medal Ribbon & Bar File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Further Information

He later achieved the rank of Brigadier General. A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ...

Arthur Hammond was born in Dawlish, Devon in 1843 and, on leaving Sherborne School, graduated from Addiscombe Military College in 1861. After serving in the Prince of Wales's Volunteer Regiment he joined the Bengal Staff Corps and Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides.

In addition to the Afghan War of 1878-1880, he served in the Jowaki Campaign of 1877-1878 and also in the Hazara Campaigns of 1888 and 1891 and the Tirah Campaign of 1897-1898.

Following his long military career, Arthur Hammond retired to Camberley in Surrey where he named his residence Sherborne House. He died in April 1919 and is buried in St. Michael's Churchyard, Camberley.

His VC is in private hands.

The medal

please update if you know where his medal is publicly displayed

Reference

See also

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/surrey.htm) (Surrey)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference (http://www.victoriacross.net) with permission.