George Willoughby (soldier)

George Dobson Percival Willoughby (23 Nov 1828 - 12 May 1857) was a British soldier who served as a lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery of the East India Company, known for blowing up the powder magazine at Delhi during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 to prevent it from falling into the hands of the mutineers.

Early life
Willoughby was born in Bath, the son of Harriet Susan (nee Boys) and George Thomas Railton Willoughby. His mother, the daughter of a naval officer, was principal of a seminary for young ladies who she instructed in her home in Camden Place. He was educated privately by the Reverend W. Williams and later at Addiscombe Military Seminary.

Military service
On completion of his studies Willoughby was commissioned into the Bengal Field Artillery in 1846. Little is known of him between then and May 1857. In 1857 he was stationed in Delhi with the rank of lieutenant, Commissary of Ordnance. This was the year that saw the start of the Indian Mutiny. The Indian Rebellion (or "Sepoy Revolt") began in the evening of May 10, 1857 at Meerut, the first station where the native troops of the Bengal Army broke out in open insurrection. They marched unhindered to Delhi arriving the following morning.

Delhi was an important city with a large European community; tt was surrounded by a high wall some six miles or so in circumference. The defences were manned by Indian troops commanded by British officers, one of whom being George Willoughby, who was in charge of the arsenal, known as the Great Magazine. The Joint-Magistrate of Delhi, Sir Thomas Metcalfe, 4th Baronet lived outside the city at Metcalfe House beside the Jumna. It was he who informed Willoughby who was on duty at the Magazine, that the Meerut mutineers were streaming across the river. Willoughby wasted no time and took steps to defend the Magazine to prevent it falling into the mutineers' hands. He ordered the outer gates closed and barricaded; guns were brought out, loaded with double charges of grapeshot and positioned within the gates.

Under Willoughby's command were two Lieutenants, Forrest and Raynor,  six Conductors (Warrant Officers) and two sergeants. Six pounder guns were stood ready to fire on the enemy should they break into the enclosure. A train of gunpowder was then laid from the foot of a large lime tree to the Magazine in order to destroy it should the need arise.Conductor Scully was stationed by the tree with orders to ignite the powder when Conductor Buckley gave him the signal by raising his hat. Lieutenant Forrest later described the preparations as follows:

"Inside the gate leading to the park we placed two six pounders double charged with grape, one under Acting Sub-Conductor Crow and Sergeant Stewart, with the lighted matches in their hands, and with orders that, if any attempt was made to force the gate, both guns were to be fired at once, and they were to fall back on that part of the Magazine in which Lt Willoughby and I were posted. The principal gate of the Magazine was similarly defended by two guns, with the 'chevaux de frieze' laid down on the inside. For the further defence of this gate and the Magazine in its vicinity there were two six pounders so placed as both to command the gate and a small bastion in its vicinity. Within sixty yards of the gate, and in front of the office, and commanding two cross-roads, were three six pounders and one twenty four pounder howitzer which could be so managed as to act on any part of the Magazine in that neighbourhood. After all these guns and howitzers had been placed in the several positions above named they were loaded with double charges of grape."

The King of Delhi, Bahadur Shah II, sent several messengers to Willoughby ordering the surrender of the Magazine, but no answer was forthcoming. Scaling ladders were put to use by the enemy and they began to swarm over the walls, whereupon the Indian troops revolted and joined the mutineers. Rounds of grapeshot were fired into the advancing troops but they continued to attack. The Englishmen remained steadfast until all their ammunition was exhausted and two of their comrades wounded. For about five hours the nine British soldiers defended their fortress. Willoughby had vainly hoped that help was on its way from Meerut. None came. Willoughby gave the order to ignite the train of gunpowder, Buckley signalled to Scully who obeyed immediately. Within seconds there was a tremendous explosion and the Magazine was destroyed killing hundreds of mutineers. In the ensuing confusion four of the defenders, Willoughby, Forrest, Raynor and Buckley although badly shaken and not expecting to be alive, managed to make good their escape. Sub-Conductor Crow and Sergeant Edwards had fallen at their gun. Scully had been so badly wounded that he was unable to move. George Willoughby was murdered the following day, it is said, by the inhabitants of a village near the Hindon river.

Recognition
The following official account of the capture of the Delhi Magazine by the mutineers was published in the Calcutta Government Guide:

"The Rt Hon the Governor-General in Council is pleased to direct the publication of the following authentic report of the occurrences at the Delhi magazine on the 11th of May last when attacked by mutineers, and of the noble and cool soldiership of its gallant defenders, commanded by Lieutenant George Willoughby, commissary of ordnance. “The Governor-General in Council desires to offer his cordial thanks to Lieutenants Raynor and Forrest, and the other survivors among the brave men mentioned in this report, and to express his admiration with which he regards the daring and heroic conduct of Lieutenant G.D.Willoughby and the warrant and non-comissioned officers by whom he was supported on that occasion. Their names are Lieutenants Raynor and Forrest, Conductors Shaw, Buckley, Scully, Sub Conductor Crow, Sergeants Edwards and Stewart. “The family of the late Conductor Scully who so devotedly sacrificed himself in the explosion of the magazine, will be liberally provided for, should it be ascertained that they have survived him.”"

In 1888 a memorial was erected at Delhi:

"On the 11th of May 1857 nine resolute Englishmen Lieutenant Geo. Dobson Willoughby, Bengal Artillery, in command Lieutenant  William Rayner, Lieutenant Geo. Forrest, Conductor Geo. William Shaw, Conductor John Buckley, Conductor John Scully, Sub Conductor William Crow, Sergeant Benjamin Edward, Sergeant Peter Stewart, defended the magazine of Delhi for more than four hours against large numbers of the rebels and mutineers until the walls being scaled and all hope of succour gone these brave men fired the magazine – five of the gallant band perished in the explosion which at the same time destroyed many of the enemy. This tablet marking the former entrance gate of the magazine is placed here by the Government of India."

In 1857 the Victoria Cross was only awarded to living recipients. The survivors of this action were thus honoured, Raynor, Buckley and Forrest; Willoughby did not receive the Victoria Cross because of his death a day later at the hand of villagers. In recognition of his gallantry Susan Willoughby was awarded a Civil List pension of £150.00 per annum for the rest of her life.