Hugh Henry Gough was born in Calcutta on 14 Nov 1833. He was the son of George Gough from an Anglo-Irish family, and Charlotte Margaret Becher. He was gazetted cornet in the 3rd Bengal Light Cavalry on 4 Sep 1853. He was promoted to lieutenant on 9 Aug 1855. During the Indian Mutiny he was adjutant in Hodson’s Horse and distinguished himself to the extent that he was awarded the Victoria Cross for two separate actions:
On 12 Nov 1857 at Alumbagh, he charged across a swamp and captured two guns which were defended by a vastly superior body of the enemy. His horse was wounded in two places and he himself received sword cuts through his turban.
On 25 Feb 1858 at Jellalabad, he set a magnificent example to his regiment when ordered to charge the enemy’s guns. He engaged himself in a series of single combats until at length he was disabled by a musket ball through his leg while charging two sepoys with fixed bayonets.
After recovering from his wounds he joined the 19th Hussars and was promoted to captain on 4 Jan 1861, given a brevet majority the next day, 5 Jan 1861. He reached the rank of General in 1894. He was married to Anne Margaret Hill on 8 Sep 1863 and they had 9 children.
The coloured photo was taken c1900 showing him with medals for the VC, Indian Mutiny with three clasps, the Abyssinia medal, the Afghan medal with four clasps and the Kabul to Kandahar Star. The breast badge and cross at his throat is the GCB (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath).
1833 14th Nov. Born in Calcutta
1853 4th Sept. Cornet in 3rd Bengal Cavalry
1857 July. Appointed adjutant Hodson's Horse
1857 12th Nov. At Alam Bagh gained VC for the first time
1858 25th Feb. At Jellalabad gained VC for the second time
1858 March. Left Hodson's Horse to recover from wounds
1861 Joined 19th Hussars
1867 Commandant 12th Bengal Cavalry
1868 Abyssinia
1878-80 Afghan War
Commanded Cavalry of the Kuman Field Force
Commanded Cavalry Brigade at Sherpur
1880 Kabul to Kandahar
1887-92 Commanded the Lahore Division
1881 22nd Feb. Awarded KCB
1894 Promoted to General
1896 26th May. Awarded GCB
1897 Published his book 'Old Memories'
1898-1904 Appointed Keeper of the Crown Jewels
1904 Lieut-Governor of the Channel Islands
1909 12th May. Died in London
