Charles John Stanley Gough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Charles John Stanley Gough
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Charles Gough, circa 1879
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| Born | 28 January 1832 Chittagong, India |
| Died | 6 September 1912 (aged 80) Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Buried |
St Patrick's Cemetery, Clonmel
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Bengal Army British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1848–1895 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Second Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny Bhutan War Second Anglo-Afghan War
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| Awards | Victoria Cross Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath |
| Relations | Sir Hugh Gough (brother) Sir Hubert Gough (son) Sir John Gough (son) |
General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough (born January 28, 1832 – died September 6, 1912) was a very important officer in the British Indian Army. He is famous for receiving the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award given for extreme bravery in battle to British and Commonwealth soldiers.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Charles Gough was born in Chittagong, Bengal, which was part of British India at the time. This was on January 28, 1832. His family was from Ireland, and they were well-known.
He was the son of Judge George Gough. Charles also had a brother named Sir Hugh Gough, who also became a general. His great-uncle was Field Marshal The 1st Viscount Gough, another famous military leader.
On June 16, 1870, Charles married Harriette Anastasia de la Poer. They had six children, but only two of them lived to be adults. These were his sons, Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough and Sir John Edmond Gough, who both followed in their father's footsteps and became generals.
His Military Career
When he was just 16 years old, Charles Gough moved back to India. He joined a cavalry unit called the 8th Bengal Cavalry in 1848. He fought in the Second Anglo-Sikh War, which was a conflict in India. By the time he was 25, he had become a major in another cavalry unit.
Bravery During the Indian Mutiny
During the Indian Mutiny (a major uprising in India from 1857-1858), Charles Gough and his brother Hugh were part of a special unit called the Guides Corps. They took part in the Siege of Lucknow, a very important battle.
Charles Gough showed incredible bravery during this time. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for several acts of courage. One of these acts included saving his brother's life.
His brave actions included:
- On August 15, 1857, he saved his wounded brother and fought off two enemies.
- On August 18, he led a cavalry charge and fought bravely in hand-to-hand combat.
- On January 27, 1858, he attacked an enemy leader with his sword. Even after losing his sword, he used his revolver to fight off two more enemies.
- On February 23, he helped another officer and fought off two more enemies in a very brave way.
Later Service and Promotions
After the Indian Mutiny, Gough continued to serve as a cavalry officer in the Indian Army. He also fought in the Bhutan War between 1864 and 1865.
In November 1878, the Second Anglo-Afghan War began. Gough was put in charge of a group of soldiers called a brigade. They entered Afghanistan through the Khyber Pass. In December 1879, he led his soldiers to help relieve the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment. His arrival caused the Afghan forces to attack the garrison, but they failed before he even got there. For his excellent service in this war, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1881. This is another important award.
After the war, Gough held several important leadership positions. He commanded the Hyderabad contingent from 1881 to 1885. Then, he led the Allahabad division from 1886 to 1890.
In April 1894, Charles Gough reached the highest rank of general. In 1895, he received an even higher honor, becoming a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. He retired from the army that same year and moved back to Ireland.
His Awards and Medals
General Sir Charles John Stanley Gough passed away on September 6, 1912, in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was 80 years old.
His medals, including his very special Victoria Cross, are now on display. You can see them in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum in London.
