James Dundas

For other people named James Dundas, see James Dundas (disambiguation).

James Dundas
File:VCJamesDundas.jpg James Dundas
Born	12 September 1842 Edinburgh, Scotland
Died	23 December 1879 (aged 37) Sherpur, Afghanistan
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Indian Army British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Bengal Engineers Royal Engineers
Battles/wars	Bhutan War Second Anglo-Afghan War
Awards	Victoria Cross

File:The memorial plaque to Robert Dundas VC in St Marys Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh.jpg

The memorial plaque to James Dundas VC in St Marys Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh

James Dundas VC (12 September 1842 – 23 December 1879) 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.

Details

Dundas was 22 years old, and a lieutenant in the Bengal Engineers, Indian Army during the Bhutan War when the following deed took place on 30 April 1865 at Dewan-Giri, Bhutan for which he was awarded the VC in a joint citation with Major William Spottiswoode Trevor:

For their gallant conduct at the attack on the Block-house at Dewan-Giri, in Bhootan, on the 30th of April, 1865.

Major-General Tombs, C.B., V.C., the Officer in command at the time, reports that a party of the enemy, from 180 to 200 in number, had barricaded themselves in the Block-house in question, which they continued to defend after the rest of the position had been carried, and the main body was in retreat. The Block-house, which was loop-holed, was the key of the enemy's position. Seeing no Officer of the storming party near him, and being anxious that the place should be taken immediately, as any protracted resistance might have caused the main body of the Bhooteas to rally, the British force having been fighting in a broiling sun on very steep and difficult ground for upwards of three hours, the General in command ordered these two Officers

to show the way into the Block-house. They had to climb up a wall which was 14 feet high, and then to enter a house, occupied by some 200 desperate men, head foremost through an opening not more than two feet wide between the top of the wall and the roof of the Block-house. Major-General Tombs states that on speaking to the Sikh soldiers around him, and telling them in Hindoostani to swarm up the wall, none of them responded to the call, until these two Officers had shewn them the way, when they followed with the greatest alacrity. Both of them were wounded. Dundas fought on despite his wounds and convinced the 200 to surrender. He recoved from his wounds 3 months in a hospital.

He later achieved the rank of captain in the Royal Engineers and was killed in action, Sherpur, Afghanistan, on 23 December 1879. In March 1877, he had inherited the family estate of Ochtertyre, near Stirling in Scotland, from his uncle Sir David Dundas MP. James Dundas died unmarried, and on his death the estate passed to his twin brother Colin Mackenzie Dundas.

Memorials

A brass memorial plaque exists in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (Episcopal).

Further information

"The Dundas Bridge", between Kabul and Bagram, Afghanistan, was named after him, by the British Army, Royal Engineers, following reconstruction work during 2002.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

External links

• Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs