James Mouat

James Mouat
Depiction of the Charge of the Light Brigade
Born	14 April 1815 Chatham, Kent
Died	4 January 1899 (aged 83) Kensington, London
Buried	Kensal Green Cemetery, London
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Surgeon General
Unit	44th Regiment of Foot 4th Regiment of Foot 9th Regiment of Foot 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons
Battles/wars	Crimean War New Zealand Wars
Awards	Victoria Cross Order of the Bath Légion d'honneur (France)

Surgeon General Sir James Mouat VC CB (14 April 1815 – 4 January 1899) was an English 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

Mouat was 39 years old, and a Surgeon in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place on 26 October 1854 in the Crimea, at Balaklava, for which he was awarded the VC.

Surgeon Mouat went with Corporal Charles Wooden to the assistance of an officer who was lying seriously wounded in an exposed position, after the retreat of the Light Cavalry. He dressed the officer's wounds under heavy fire from the enemy, and by stopping a severe haemorrhage, helped to save his life.

His citation reads:

War-Office, 2 June 1858.

THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the Decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of Her Majesty's Army, who have been recommended to Her Majesty for that Decoration, in accordance with the rules laid down in Her Majesty's Warrant of 29 January 1856, on account of Acts of Bravery performed by them in the Crimea during the late War, as recorded against their several names ; viz.:

[...]

Late of 6th Dragoons, Surgeon James Mouat, C.B., (now Deputy-Inspector-General of Hospitals)

Date of Act of Bravery, 26 October 1854

For having voluntarily proceeded to the assistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, C.B., 17th Lancers, who was lying dangerously wounded in an exposed situation after the retreat of the Light Cavalry at the battle of Balaklava, and having dressed that officer's wounds in presence of, and under a heavy fire from the enemy. Thus, by stopping a serious hemorrhage [sic], he assisted in saving that officer's life.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Mytchett, Surrey.

Family

Mouat married, in 1869, Adela-Rose-Ellen, daughter of Rev Nicholas Tindal, rector of Sandhurst, Gloucestershire and granddaughter of Sir Nicolas Conyngham Tindal, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1829 to 1845.

References

• "Testimony to the reality of the Mesmeric Phenomena in University College Hospital, by Mr. James Mouat, Army Surgeon", The Zoist: A Journal of Cerebral Physiology & Mesmerism, and Their Applications to Human Welfare, Vol.7, No.25, (April 1849), pp. 41–44.
• RAMC Journal
• "The emerging office of the Surgeon General", Lieutenant Colonel Robert L Pearce, Australian Defence Force Health Journal, April 2002
• Location of grave and VC medal (Kensal Green Cemetery)