
Photo by Terry Macdonald
'Herbert Taylor Reade'
VC CB (
September 2,
1828,
Perth,
Upper Canada-
June 23,
1897,
Bath), was a
Canadian 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.
Details
He was 28 years old, and a
Surgeon in the
61st Regiment (later
The Gloucestershire Regiment),
British Army during the
Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On
14 September 1857, during the Siege of
Delhi,
India, while Surgeon Reade was attending the wounded at the end of one of the streets, a party of rebels advanced and having established themselves started firing from the roofs of the houses. The wounded were thus in very great danger but Surgeon Reade drew his sword and, calling on the few soldiers who were near to follow, succeeded in dislodging the rebels. At the assault on Delhi, on 16 September Surgeon Reade was one of the first up at the breach in the magazine and he, with a sergeant, spiked one of the enemy's guns.
Further information
He later achieved the rank of
Surgeon General. Grave/memorial at Buried at Locksbrook Cemetery, Bath, Somerset (now Bath & North East Somerset), England. Section FJ. Grave 864. Headstone.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at
The Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum ''(Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England)''.
External links
★
Location of grave and VC medal ''(Avon)''
★
Surgeon-General H.B. Reade
★
Legion Magazine Article on Herbert Taylor Read
ppCategory:British Army officers]]