Colonel Hugh Rowlands


Hugh Rowlands won the VC in the Crimea whilst he was a captain in the 41st Welch Regiment. On 5th Nov 1854, at Inkerman, he rescued the colonel of the 47th Lancashire Regiment who had been wounded and surrounded by Russian soldiers. He also acted with great gallantry in holding the ground occupied by his advance picquet against the enemy at the beginning of the battle.

Hugh was born on 6th May 1828 at Llanrug, Caernarvonshire and entered the army as an ensign in the 41st in 1849. He served with his regiment in the Crimean War and became their Commanding Officer in March 1866. In May 1875 he exchanged to the 34th which he commanded until June 1878 when he left the regiment. He went on special service in South Africa in 1879 where he commanded no.5 Column of Lord Chelmsford's first invasion of Zululand.

He reached the rank of General and held several important posts; QMG in 1880, Commander of 1st class District, India 1884-89, Lieutenant of the Tower of London 1893, Commander of Scottish District 1893-96. He was awarded the Legion d'Honneur and the KCB. He died in Llanrug on 1st August 1909.


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by Stephen Luscombe