James Leith (VC)
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James Leith
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| Born | 26 May 1826 Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire |
| Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Paddington, London |
| Buried |
Towie Churchyard
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Major |
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| Battles/wars | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Other work | Cambridge University Cricketer |
Major James Leith VC (26 May 1826 – 13 May 1869) 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.
Life
James Leith was educated at Blackheath Proprietary School and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He played cricket for Cambridge University from 1846 to 1849.[2]
Leith was 31 years old, and a lieutenant in the 14th Light Dragoons (later 14th Hussars (The King's)), British Army during the Indian Mutiny when, on 1 April 1858 at Betwa, India, the following deed led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross:
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For conspicuous bravery at Betwah, on the 1st of April, 1858, in having, charged alone, and rescued Captain Need, of the same Regiment, when surrounded by a large number of rebel Infantry. Despatch from Major-General Sir Hugh Henry Rose, G.C.B., dated 28th April, 1858.[3]
The medal is currently displayed at the 14th/20th King's Hussars gallery of the Museum of Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire.
He was appointed to the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms in 1868.[4]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Cricinfo.com
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22212. p. 5517. 24 December 1858. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
- ↑ London Gazette, 1868
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Grampian)
- Use British English from March 2015
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1826 births
- 1869 deaths
- People from Marr
- People educated at Blackheath Proprietary School
- British recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Indian Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross
- 14th King's Hussars officers
- Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
- Cambridge University cricketers
- British military personnel of the Anglo-Persian War
- Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms
- Royal Scots Greys officers
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
