Aylmer Cameron

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox military person Colonel Aylmer Spicer Cameron Template:Post-nominals (12 August 1833 – 10 June 1909<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>) was a British Army officer and 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Life

Cameron was born in Perth on 12 August 1833 into a military family. He was the son of Colonel William Gordon Cameron, Grenadier Guards, and grandson of General William Neville Cameron of the East India Company's service. He had four brothers in the Army and Navy, including General Sir William Gordon Cameron. Four of his five sons served in the armed forces,<ref name=Obituary>Obituary of Aylmer Cameron. The Times, 12 June 1909, page 11.</ref> including Major Cecil Aylmer Cameron. His daughter, Esme Gordon, married Vice Admiral Joseph Charles Walrond Henley, CB.<ref>tombstone in Waterperry church</ref>

Aylmer Cameron was commissioned as an Ensign in the 72nd Highlanders, British Army, on 9 July 1852,<ref>The Edinburgh Gazette, "No. 6194" Template:Webarchive, 13 July 1852. p. 600.</ref> and promoted to Lieutenant in August 1854.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> He took part in the Crimean War and was present at the siege of Sebastopol in 1855, before going to India after the outbreak of the Indian Mutiny in 1857.<ref name=Obituary/>

He was a member of the Bath and County Club.<ref>Bath and County Club Records, Guildhall, Bath, Somerset</ref>

VC action

Cameron was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the 72nd Highlanders during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 30 March 1858 at Kotah, India for which he was awarded the VC: Template:Quote

In addition to receiving the VC, for his services in India Cameron was twice mentioned in dispatches<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref><ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and, in December 1859, was promoted to captain.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Later service

In June 1871 Cameron was promoted to major in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers (25th Foot),<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> becoming a lieutenant-colonel in October 1877<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and colonel in July 1881.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> He served as a staff officer in Canada from 1879 to 1881,<ref name=Obituary/> and commanded the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers from July 1881<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> to 1883. He was chief of the Intelligence Branch at Army Headquarters from 1883 to 1886, and Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 1886 to 1888.<ref name=Obituary/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in May 1886,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and retired in August 1888.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

He died, after a long period of ill-health, on 10 June 1909 aged 75,<ref name=Obituary/> and is buried in St Mark's Churchyard, Highcliffe, Dorset.<ref name=Location/>

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of Queens Own Highlanders in Fort George, Highland, Scotland.<ref name=Location>Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross</ref>

External links

• Location of grave (Dorset) and VC medal (Fort George)
• British Medals (Biography)