[5] Wilmot served as a captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) and later was on the staff of Brigadier General Hope Grant.

[1] It was while assigned to the staff that he fought in the Indian Mutiny; on 11 March 1858 at Lucknow, India, along with Private David Hawkes and Corporal William Nash, the following deed led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross: Rifle Brigade, 2nd Battalion.

One of the four was shot through both legs, and became utterly helpless: the two men lifted him up, and although Private Hawkes was severely wounded, he carried him for a considerable distance, exposed to the fire of the enemy, Captain Wilmot firing with the men's rifles, and covering the retreat of the party.

[1] He succeeded to the baronetcy of Wilmot of Chaddesden on the death of his father in 1872[1] and was made a Companion of the Bath in the Civil Division of the Order (CB) in 1881.

[17] Henry Wilmot died of pneumonia on 7 April 1901 at his home in Bournemouth[1] and was buried at St Mary's Church, Chaddesden.