Howard Craufurd Elphinstone VC

Name: Howard Craufurd Elphinstone

Conflict: Crimean War

Gazetted: June 4, 1858

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Sunzel, Russia (now Lithuania)/December 12, 1829

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (later Major General and Sir)

Date of bravery: June 18, 1855

London Gazette citation:

Royal Engineers. Captain Howard Craufurd Elphinstone. Date of Act of Bravery, 18^th June, 1855.

For fearless conduct, in having, on the night after the unsuccessful attack on the Redan, volunteered to command a party of volunteers, who proceeded to search for and bring back the scaling ladders left behind after the repulse; and while successfully performing this task, of rescuing trophies from the Russians, Captain Elphinstone conducted a persevering search, close to the enemy, for wounded men, twenty of whom he rescued and brought back to the Trenches.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: KCB (civilian), CMG, CB (military)

Place/date of death: At sea/March 8, 1890

Grave/memorials: Devonport Chapel, Devon; St Anne’s Church, Bagshot, Surrey; Exeter Cathedral, Devon; St George’s Garrison Church, Aldershot, Hampshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Sotheby’s, London, 1990

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum