Dighton Probyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn
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General Sir Dighton Probyn with Queen Mary, July 1918
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| Born | 21 January 1833 Marylebone, London |
| Died | 20 June 1924 (aged 91) Sandringham House, Norfolk |
| Buried |
Kensal Green Cemetery
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| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
Bengal Army British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1849–19?? |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Indian Mutiny Second Anglo-Chinese War Umbeyla Campaign |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order Imperial Service Order Order of Philip the Magnanimous (Hessen) Order of the Red Eagle (1st Class) (Prussia) Order of the Redeemer (2nd Class) (Greece) Royal Order of Kalākaua (1st Class) (Hawaii) Order of the Tower and Sword (Portugal) Order of St Anne (1st Class) (Russia) Order of Osmanieh (2nd Class) (Turkey) |
| Spouse(s) | Letitia Maria Thellusson, Lady Probyn (m. 1872-1900; her death) |
| Other work | Keeper of the Privy Purse |
General Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn (born January 21, 1833 – died June 20, 1924) was a brave British Army officer. He received the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for courage given to British and Commonwealth soldiers. This award is for showing extreme bravery when facing the enemy.
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Becoming a Soldier: Early Career
Dighton Probyn joined the East India Company's Bengal Army in 1849. He started as a young officer called a cornet in the 6th Light Cavalry. In 1852, he became an adjutant for the new 2nd Punjab Cavalry. This group helped keep peace on the border.
When the Indian Rebellion of 1857 began, Probyn was with his cavalry unit. His squadron, a small group of soldiers, fought throughout the rebellion. He was mentioned many times for his brave actions.
By the end of 1857, Probyn's squadron was often called "Probyn's Horse." This was because he was such a strong leader. Another officer wrote that Probyn and another leader, Captain Hodson, were loved by their "wild horsemen." These soldiers were known for their courage and skill.
After much fighting, Probyn became very tired from the constant campaigns. He returned to England in March 1858. He continued to rise through the ranks, becoming a major, then a lieutenant-colonel, and later a major-general.
His Victoria Cross for Bravery
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Probyn was 24 years old and a captain in the 2nd Punjab Cavalry during the Indian Mutiny. He earned the Victoria Cross for several acts of incredible bravery:
- At the Battle of Agra, his group charged the enemy. Probyn found himself alone, surrounded by five or six enemy soldiers. He fought them off and cut down two before his own men could reach him.
- Another time, he fought an enemy soldier one-on-one. He was wounded in the wrist, but he still defeated the soldier.
- On the same day, he bravely went after an enemy flag bearer. He killed the flag bearer and captured the flag, even with many enemies watching.
These actions were just a few examples of his courage. His Victoria Cross medal was later sold at an auction in 2005 for £160,000.
Working for the Royal Family
In 1872, the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII, asked Probyn to work for him. Probyn became one of the Prince's equerries, which is like a personal assistant to a royal. He was given many important titles and awards, like Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India.
Probyn became a very important person in the royal household. He was the Keeper of the Privy Purse, which meant he managed the Prince and Princess's money. They liked to spend a lot, so Probyn worked hard to make sure they didn't run out of money. He was so good at his job that when the Prince became King Edward VII in 1901, he actually had money saved in the bank!
Probyn stayed in his role even after the Prince became King. He was very loyal to the Princess, who became Queen-Empress. He even built gardens for her at Windsor Castle and Sandringham House. The Queen was also very devoted to him. She even carried a knife to cut open his collar if he had a seizure.
In 1915, Probyn gave a special engraved wristwatch to Captain Frank Beck. Beck was an officer who led the Sandringham Volunteers in First World War. After Beck was killed in the Gallipoli Campaign, the watch was bought from a Turkish officer and returned to Beck's family.
In his old age, Probyn had a very long white beard that reached his belly button. It was so long that it would hide his Victoria Cross medal when he wore it for ceremonies!
His Family and Legacy
Probyn married Letitia Maria Thellusson in 1872. Lady Probyn passed away in 1900.
Probyn died on June 20, 1924.
His legacy lives on in several ways:
- A famous army regiment, the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse, was named after him. It is now part of the Pakistan Army.
- A town in Punjab, Pakistan, called Probynabad, is also named after him.
- A type of flower, an Iris iberica hybrid, was named 'Sir Dighton Probyn' in 1909.
