ben
Corporal
The Soldier Who Would Not Give Up.
Posts: 15
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Post by ben on Sept 9, 2007 5:31:47 GMT
Crimean soldier's grave dedicated
Grave of Victoria Cross winner Private Robert Humpston
Pte Humpston won the VC in the Crimean War
The grave of a soldier who won the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Crimean War has been dedicated in a ceremony in Nottingham.
Campaigners have worked for two years to raise £1,200 to get a headstone for Pte Robert Humpston.
He was buried in a pauper's grave in Nottingham in 1884.
Derby-born Pte Humpston was 23 years old when he won the Victoria Cross in 1855 for capturing a Russian rifle pit near Sebastopol.
About 100 people gathered at the community grave at Nottingham Cemetery where he is buried for the dedication.
"He attacked and cleared the gun pits held by the Russians - allowing the English army to progress and saving a lot of English lives," project co-ordinator Tony Higton said.
ceremony in Nottingham
About 100 people attended the dedication
His great-great-great-granddaughter Kathryn Humpston said: "It feels very special that after 124 years Robert Humpston is going to be recognised for what he has done.
"I feel quite proud and honoured to be part of the day."
Pte Humpston also served in India at the time of the Indian Mutiny.
He returned to England where he worked on the railway as a labourer.
He was married and had one son. His grandson Arthur died in 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele
BBC news / Ben
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Post by Les on Sept 15, 2007 14:42:45 GMT
Further info courtesy of www.victoriacross.org.ukPrivate Robert Humpston VC, 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade, died at his home in Derby on 22nd December 1884 and was buried four days later in an unmarked grave in the Nottingham General Cemetery. This is where Robert Humpston was to lay unrecognised until local man Tony Higton took an interest. Mr Higton is a member of the Western Front Association and his interest in the Victoria Cross began after visiting the battlefields of Northern France. Tony Higton decided to do something about Robert Humpston's unmarked grave and started raising funds for a headstone, first gaining approval from Nottingham City Council for the project to go ahead. The culmination was a ceremony held in Nottingham's General Cemetery on Saturday, 8th September 2007, to unveil and dedicate a new headstone to Robert Humpston VC. Over a hundred people gathered in the cemetery, including Humpston's great-great-great-granddaughter, to pay their respects to this hero of the Crimean War. The service was conducted by retired Army Padre Reverend Douglas Dennis and a bugler was provided by Nottingham High School. Representatives from the Royal Green Jackets, Royal British Legion, and the Mayor of Nottingham were in attendance. Medal entitlement of Private Robert Humpston - 2nd Bn, The Rifle Brigade Victoria Cross Crimea Medal ( 1854-56 ) 2 clasps: 'Alma' - 'Sebastopol' Indian Mutiny Medal ( 1857-58 ) 2 clasps: 'Lucknow' - 'Central India' Turkish Crimea Medal ( 1855-56 ) |
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