Sir Henry Wilmot, 5th Baronet

Colonel Sir Henry Wilmot, 5th Baronet Template:Post-nominals (3 February 1831 – 7 April 1901) 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. He was also a Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Wilmot was born in Chaddesden,<ref name=TimesObit/> near Derby the son of Sir Henry Wilmot (4th Baronet) and his wife Maria Mundy daughter of Edmund Mundy of Shipley Hall. He was educated at Rugby School.<ref name=TimesObit/>

Military career

Henry Wilmot in 1849 as an Ensign of the 43rd Foot

Wilmot purchased a commission as an Ensign in the 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Two years later he purchased a Lieutenancy<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> and in 1855 purchased a Captaincy in the same regiment.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Later in 1855 he transferred to the Rifle Brigade, still as a Captain.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> 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.<ref name=TimesObit>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> 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: Template:Quote

Later, he served in the Central Indian campaign of 1858 and the Second China War.

In 1862, Wilmot retired from the regular army<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> having been appointed a Major in the Volunteer Force unit, the 1st Administrative Battalion, Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Appointment as lieutenant colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers followed in 1863.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> Further recognition was made in 1868 when Wilmot was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> In 1881 he was granted the honorary rank of colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers,<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> prior to resigning his commission and being appointed honorary Colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Corps.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> With the expansion of the Volunteer Force Wilmot was appointed as brigade commander of the North Midland Brigade in 1888<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> with the substantive rank of Colonel in the Volunteer Forces<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> an appointment he held until 1895.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Personal life

Wilmot married Charlotte Pare (1838–1891) in 1862.<ref name=TimesObit/> He succeeded to the baronetcy of Wilmot of Chaddesden on the death of his father in 1872<ref name=TimesObit/> and was made a Companion of the Bath in the Civil Division of the Order (CB) in 1881.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref> A final honour in 1898 was to be appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath (KCB).<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

Henry Wilmot died of pneumonia on 7 April 1901 at his home in Bournemouth<ref name=TimesObit/> and was buried at St Mary's Church, Chaddesden.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

Wilmot sat as a Member of Parliament (MP) for South Derbyshire from 1869 to 1885.<ref name=TimesObit/> He was also an alderman of Derbyshire and had been chairman of the County Council.<ref name=TimesObit/>

Further reading

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)

External links

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