Aylmer Spicer Cameron was born in Hampshire on 12 Aug 1833. He was the son of Lt-Colonel William Gordon Cameron who was ADC to Wellington at Waterloo.
Aylmer served with the 72nd Highlanders in the Crimea from 13 June 1855 and was in the expedition to Kertch, the siege and fall of Sebastopol, during which he took part in the attack on 18 June 1855. From 9 Oct 1855 to 8 Mar 1856 he was Assistant Engineer to the Highland Division.
He was with the 72nd Highlanders in India during the Indian Mutiny. At Kotah on 30 Mar 1858 he led a small party and attacked rebels who were in a well defended house, firing from loop-holes. There was a narrow entrance where Lieutenant Cameron engaged in single combat with three rebels and killed them, but lost half his hand from a tulwar and received two bayonet wounds. He was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 11 Nov 1859 and presented with his medal by Queen Victoria at Windsor on 9 Nov 1860. His medal is at Fort George, Scotland.
He also took part in a battle at Bunass, and at Pertabghur he commanded two companies in another fight. He was mentioned in despatches. He transferred to the 25th King’s Own Borderers as captain in 1859, serving with them in Ceylon. In 1874 he was Chief Garrison Instructor at Umballa. He served in Canada as AAG from 1879-81 and was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion King’s Own Borderers in July 1881 while the battalion was in Ireland. He went on half pay in June 1883 and became a staff officer, as Assistant Quartermaster General of the Intelligence Department at Army HQ. In 1886 he was appointed Commandant at RMC Sandhurst, finally retiring on 27 June 1888.
Aylmer Spicer Cameron was married to Arabella Piercy in September 1865 and had five sons and three daughters. He died on 10 June 1909 at Alverstoke, Hampshire.
The photo was taken c1860 showing him in the dress uniform of the 25th King’s Own Borderers, wearing his VC and medals for the Indian Mutiny and Crimean War. The rank of captain is indicated by the embroidered crown and star on each side of his blue collar.
1852 Ensign 9 Jul
1854 Lieutenant 1 Sep
1859 Captain 13 Dec
1871 Major 21 June
1877 Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 1 Oct
1881 Lieutenant-Colonel 1 Jul
1881 Colonel 1 Oct
1883 retired on half pay 27 June
