Augustus Anson

The latter nobleman made his debut as Minister of War in the character of a military reformer, which I fear he will scarcely be able to sustain after the Dowbiggin exposure.

[a] We have seen him at the very moment when England was mourning Lord Raglan's loss-when hundreds of British parents were weeping for their children whose lives had been uselessly wasted on the glacis of the Redan—when our statesmen, perplexed where to look for military talent, had at last doubtfully decided on General Simpson as a temporary stop-gap—we have seen Lord Panmure, I say, at such a moment, in the midst of England's perplexity and sorrow, availing himself of the very despatch in which he had announced to the overtasked old General the high position which had been forced upon him in order to obtain for his nephew [Capt.

Dowbiggin] the promotion which he feared he could not obtain on his own merits; and, I am sorry to say, we have heard the Premier of England declare in Parliament that he thought the content of that despatch redounded to Lord Pamure's honour!

"[3]At 22 years old and a captain in the 84th Regiment during the Indian Mutiny, when the following deeds took place on 28 September 1857 at Bolandshahr and at Lucknow, on 16 November 1857, for which he was awarded the VC.

The 9th Light Dragoons had charged through the town, and were reforming in the Serai; the enemy attempted to close the entrance by drawing their carts across it, so as to shut in the cavalry and form a cover from which to fire upon them.

Owing to a wound in his left hand, received at Delhi, he could not stop his horse, and rode into the middle of the enemy, who fired a volley at him, one ball passing through his coat.

Monument in Lichfield Cathedral
Detail from his monument in Lichfield Cathedral showing arms of Anson impaling Claughton, with crest of Anson above, with his Victoria Cross at left