Augustus Anson

Lieutenant-Colonel Augustus Henry Archibald Anson, VC (5 March 1835 – 17 November 1877) was a member of the Anson family and a 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. He served as member of parliament for Lichfield from 1859 until 1868, and for Bewdley from 1869 to 1874.

Augustus Anson
Born	5 March 1835 Slebech Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Died	17 November 1877 (aged 42) Cannes, France
Buried	Cimetière du Grand Jas, Cannes
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	Retired 1873
Rank	Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit	84th Regiment of Foot 7th Hussars
Battles/wars	Crimean War Indian Mutiny Second Anglo-Chinese War
Awards	Victoria Cross
Relations	Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield (father)
Other work	Member of Parliament

Monument in Lichfield Cathedral

Detail from his monument in Lichfield Cathedral showing arms of Anson impaling Claughton, with crest of Anson above, with his Victoria Cross at left

Life and career

Anson was a son of Thomas Anson, 1st Earl of Lichfield, and it was when he was 22 years old and a captain in the 84th Regiment of Foot (later the 2nd Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment), during the Indian Mutiny, when the following deeds took place on 28 September 1857 at Bolandshahr and at Lucknow, on 16 November 1857, for which he was awarded the VC. Despatch from Major-General Sir James Hope Grant, K.C.B., dated 12th August, 1858:[1]

For conspicuous bravery at Bolundshahur, on the 28th September, 1857. The 9th Light Dragoons had charged through the town, and were reforming in the Serai; the enemy attempted to close the entrance by drawing their carts across it, so as to shut in the cavalry and form a cover from which to fire upon them. Captain Anson, taking a lance, dashed out of the gateway, and knocked the drivers off their carts. Owing to a wound in his left hand, received at Delhi, he could not stop his horse, and rode into the middle of the enemy, who fired a volley at him, one ball passing through his coat. At Lucknow, at the assault of the Secundra Bagh, on 16th November, 1857, he entered with the storming party on the gates being burst open. He had his horse killed, and was himself slightly wounded. He has shown the greatest gallantry on every occasion, and has slain many enemies in fight.

On his return to England, he married Amelia Claughton, a daughter of the future first Bishop of St Albans, Rev. Thomas Legh Claughton. Anson later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1859, he was elected Member of Parliament for Lichfield as a Liberal, holding the seat until 1868. Although losing the by-election in 1869 for Bewdley the election was overturned on petition and the seat was awarded to him. He won the subsequent election and remained in parliament until 1874.

In 1870, he was one of two directors of The Land and Sea Telegraph Construction Company Ltd. as it applied to be wound up, the other being William Palliser. Anson was then "of Dudley House, Park-lane, in the county of Middlesex".[2]

Anson died at the age of 42 in Cannes, France, and was buried there. There is a memorial plaque to him in Lichfield Cathedral.

Works

• The supersession of the colonels of the Royal Army (1873)

References

1. "No. 22212". The London Gazette. 24 December 1858. p. 5513.
2. London Gazette, Issue 23645 published on 16 August 1870, p 3846 online

External links

• Works written by or about Augustus Anson at Wikisource
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Augustus Anson
• Burial location of Augustus Anson "France"
• Location of Augustus Anson's Victoria Cross "The Shugborough Estate"