Robert Blair (VC)
Robert Blair | |
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| Battles/wars | James Blair (cousin) |
Robert Blair VC (13 March 1834 – 28 March 1859) was a Scottish 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.
He was 23 years old, and a
Lieutenant Robert Blair. Date of Act of Bravery, 28th September, 1857
" A most gallant feat was here performed by Lieutenant Blair, who was ordered to take a party of one sergeant and twelve men and bring in a deserted ammunition waggon. As his party approached, a body of fifty or sixty of the enemy's horse came down upon him, from a village, where they had remained unobserved: without a moment's hesitation he formed up his men, and, regardless of the odds, gallantly led them on, dashing through the rebels. He made good his retreat without losing a man, leaving nine of them dead on the field. Of these he killed four himself; but, to my regret, after having run a native officer through the body with his sword, he was severely wounded, the joint of his shoulder being nearly severed."
Despatch from Major-General James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 10th January, 1858.
Blair was a graduate of
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Queen's Dragoon Guards Regimental Museum in Cardiff Castle, Wales.
References
- ^ "No. 22154". The London Gazette. 18 June 1858. p. 2960.
- ^ "The Snell Exhibition, from the University of Glasgow to Balliol College, Oxford"
- Monuments to Courage(David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)