John Augustus Wood
{{Short description|Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross}}
{{other people|John Wood}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|name= John Augustus Wood
|birth_date=10 June 1818
|death_date= 23 January 1878
|birth_place= Fort William, Scotland
|death_place=Poona, British India
|placeofburial=St Mary's Churchyard, Poona
|image= Victoria Cross Medal without Bar.png
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance= {{UK}}
|serviceyears=
|rank=Colonel
|branch=Bombay Army
|commands=
|unit=20th Bombay Native Infantry
|battles=Anglo-Persian War
Indian Mutiny
|awards= Victoria Cross
|laterwork=
|relations=
}}
Colonel John Augustus Wood VC (10 June 1818 – 23 January 1878) was a Scottish 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.
Details
Wood was 38 years old, and a captain in the 20th Bombay Native Infantry, Bombay Army during the Persian War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 9 December 1856 at Bushire, Persia, Captain Wood led a Grenadier Company which formed the head of the assaulting column and was the first man on the parapet of the fort, where he was immediately attacked by a large number of the garrison. A volley was fired at Captain Wood and the head of the storming party at very close range but although the captain was hit by seven musket balls he at once threw himself upon the enemy, killing their leader. He was closely followed by the men of his company and speedily overcame all opposition.{{London Gazette|date=3 August 1860|issue=22409|page=2860}}
His was the first Victoria Cross to be won in a British Indian regiment and the standard captured that day is still preserved by the battalion.Mackenzie (1951), p. 131
Further information
He later achieved the rank of colonel. His VC is held by the 2 Rajputana Rifles regiment of the Indian Army. He died on 23 January 1878 aged 59.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
- [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbwoodja.htm VC location]
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- {{cite book | first=Compton|last=Mackenzie |authorlink=Compton Mackenzie| title=Eastern Epic| publisher=Chatto & Windus, London | year=1951 | page=623 pages}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wood, John Augustus}}
Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:British Indian Army officers
Category:British East India Company Army officers
Category:British military personnel of the Anglo-Persian War
Category:People from Fort William, Highland
Category:Place of birth missing
Category:British military personnel of the Indian Rebellion of 1857