James Hills-Johnes

Lieutenant General Sir James Hills-Johnes (added Johnes after his marriage) VC, GCB (20 August 1833 – 3 January 1919) was a Welsh 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.

Biography
He was born in Neechindipur in Bengal, India, the son of James Hills and was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and the Addiscombe Military Seminary. He entered the Bengal Artillery in 1853 and served in the Indian Mutiny (1857-8), winning the Victoria Cross at the siege of Delhi. He also fought in the Afghanistan war, (1878–80) and was made military governor of Kabul.

He was awarded a KCB in 1881 and GCB in 1893.

VC details
He was 23 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at the siege of Delhi on 9 July 1857 for which he and Henry Tombs were awarded the Victoria Cross:

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tombs, C.B., and Lieutenant James Hills

Date of Act of Bravery, 9 July 1857

For very gallant conduct on the part of Lieutenant Hills before Delhi, in defending the position assigned to him in case of alarm, and for noble behaviour on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Tombs in twice coming to his subaltern's rescue, and on each occasion killing his man. (See despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, Commanding 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, dated Camp, near Delhi, 10 July 1857, published in the Supplement to the London Gazette of the 16th January, 1858.)

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant General serving with the Royal Artillery.

Later life
He was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1886 and made an honorary freeman of the town of Carmarthen in 1910.

He died in 1919 at his Dolaucothi Estate, being buried at Caio, Carmarthenshire. He had married in 1882, Elizabeth, younger daughter and coheiress of John Johnes of Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire and assumed the additional surname of Johnes. He was the brother-in-law of Lieutenant W.G. Cubitt VC.

The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London.