Joseph Petrus Hendrik Crowe was born on 12 Jan 1826, in Uitenhage, Cape Colony, SA. He entered the 78th Highlanders as an ensign in 1846 and served in the Persian campaign of 1856, present at the action of Kooshab and the bombardment of Mohumrah. In the Indian Mutiny he served in Havelock’s Column from 1857, taking part in the actions at Futtehpore, Pandu Nuddi, Cawnpore, Oonao and Buseerutgunge where Lieutenant Crowe won the VC.
On 12 August 1857 at Bourbeakechowkee the column encountered an entrenchment that protected Buseerutgunge. Musket fire from a redoubt occupied by mutineers had pinned down the men of the 78th Ross-shire Buffs. A decision was made to storm the redoubt and Lieutenant Crowe led the assault. He was the first one into the enemy stronghold and his men were inspired to risk their lives attacking the defenders. The redoubt was captured very quickly.
Lt Joseph Crowe was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 15 Jan 1858. His further service in the Mutiny included the actions at Mungarwar, Alumbagh, the relief of Lucknow, where he was wounded, the defence of Alumbagh under Outram’s command, the siege and capture of Lucknow, relief of Azimghur, and operations near Jugdespore. He was promoted to captain in January 1858 and given a brevet of major on 20 Dec 1859 for his long hard service.
He transferred to the 10th North Lincolns in 1858 with the rank of captain and was appointed commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, 10th North Lincolns on 23 October 1875. He died in Penge, London, on 12 April 1876, only 6 months after his appointment. He was buried in West Norwood Cemetery but 100 years later, in 1977, he was re-interred at Uitenhage in South Africa. The photo shows Lt-Colonel Crowe in 1875, in the dress uniform of the 10th Regiment, with medals for the Persian campaign of 1856 and the Indian Mutiny, as well as his VC.
1846 Ensign in the 78th Highlanders 27 Oct
1850 Lieutenant 17 Sep
1858 Captain in the 10th Regiment 8 Jan
1859 Brevet Major 20 Dec
1866 Major 28 Aug
1871 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 2 Jan
1875 Lieutenant-Colonel 23 Oct
