William George Hawtry Bankes VC

Name: William George Hawtry Bankes

Conflict: Indian Mutiny

Gazetted: December 24, 1858

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Kingston Lacy, Dorset/September 11, 1836

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Cornet

Date of bravery: March 19, 1858

London Gazette citation:

Cornet William George Hawtrey Bankes, 7th Hussars, upon whom the Commander-in-Chief in India has reported that the Decoration of the Victoria Cross has been provisionally conferred, for conspicuous gallantry, in thrice charging a body of infuriated fanatics, who had rushed on the guns employed in shelling a small mud fort in the vicinity of Moosa-Bagh, Lucknow, on the 19th of March, 1858, of the wounds received on which occasion he subsequently died, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for confirmation in that distinction, had he survived. Cornet Bankes led three charges against a body of rebels who had rushed the guns in the vicinity of Moosa-Bagh. In the course of these charges the young officer was almost cut to pieces. He died of his wounds 18 days later.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Lucknow, India/April 6, 1858

Grave/memorials: Memorial window at Studland Church, near Swanage, Dorset; memorial stone in the floor of Westminster Abbey, North Transept; plaque and family vault at Wimborne Minster, Wimborne, Dorset.

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2017

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