Lieutenant-ColonelAugustus 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.
Monument in Lichfield CathedralDetail from his monument in Lichfield Cathedral showing arms of Anson impaling Claughton, with crest of Anson above, with his Victoria Cross at left
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.
Worksedit
The supersession of the colonels of the Royal Army (1873)
augustus, anson, lieutenant, colonel, augustus, henry, archibald, anson, march, 1835, november, 1877, member, anson, family, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, se. 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 AnsonBorn5 March 1835Slebech Hall Haverfordwest Pembrokeshire EnglandDied17 November 1877 aged 42 Cannes FranceBuriedCimetiere du Grand Jas CannesAllegiance United KingdomService wbr branchBritish ArmyYears of serviceRetired 1873RankLieutenant ColonelUnit84th Regiment of Foot7th HussarsBattles warsCrimean WarIndian MutinySecond Anglo Chinese WarAwardsVictoria CrossRelationsThomas Anson 1st Earl of Lichfield father Other workMember 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 Contents 1 Life and career 2 Works 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editAnson 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 12 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 editThe supersession of the colonels of the Royal Army 1873 References edit No 22212 The London Gazette 24 December 1858 p 5513 London Gazette Issue 23645 published on 16 August 1870 p 3846 onlineExternal links edit nbsp Works 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 Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byViscount Sandon andLord Alfred Paget Member of Parliament for Lichfield1859 1868 With Lord Alfred Paget to 1865Richard Dyott from 1865 Succeeded byRichard Dyott Preceded byJohn Pickersgill Cunliffe Member of Parliament for Bewdley1869 1874 Succeeded byCharles Harrison Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Augustus Anson amp oldid 1103896996, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
