John Charles Campbell Daunt VC
Name: John Charles Campbell Daunt
Conflict: Indian Mutiny
Gazetted: February 25, 1862
Service: Indian Army
John Charles Campbell Daunt VC
Medal group
Place/date of birth: Autranches, Normandy, France/November 8, 1832
Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (later Colonel)
Date of bravery: October 2 and November 2, 1857
London Gazette citation [joint citation]:
11th (late 70th) Bengal Native Infantry. Lieutenant John Charles Campbell Daunt. Date of Acts of Bravery, October 2nd and November 2nd, 1857.
Lieutenant Daunt and Serjeant Dynon are recommended for conspicuous gallantry in action, on the 2nd of October, 1857, with the Mutineers of the Ramgurh Battalion at Chota Behar, in capturing two guns, particularly the last, when they rushed at and captured it by pistoling the gunners, who were mowing the detachment down with grape, one-third of which was hors-de-combat at the time.
Lieutenant Daunt is also recommended for chasing, on the 2nd of November following, the Mutineers of the 32nd Bengal Native Infantry across a plain into a rich cultivation, into which he followed them with a few of Rattray’s Sikhs. He was dangerously wounded in the attempt to drive out a large body of these Mutineers from an enclosure, the preservation of many of his party, on this occasion, being attributed to his gallantry.
Click here to see full Gazette entry.
Other decorations: N/A
Place/date of death: Bristol, Avon/April 15, 1886
Grave/memorials: Redland Parish Churchyard, Bristol
Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Dix Noonan Webb, London, 2003
Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum