Eustace Jotham
Encyclopedia
Eustace Jotham VC
(28 November 1883 – 7 January 1915) was an English
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.
Born in Kidderminster
28 November 1883, Jotham attended Bromsgrove School
from 1899. In 1901, at the age of 18, he left to attend the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment
as a second lieutenant
on 22 April 1903 and joined the 2nd battalion, embarking for a tour of duty in India.
In 1903 Jotham sailed to India with the North Staffords and served with them until 1905. Under the Indian Army regulations for admission paragraph 13 British army officers could transfer to the Indian army. Jotham transferred to the Indian Army
on 23 June 1905 (backdated to his commissioning date in 1903), and promoted to lieutenant
in the 102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers
on 22 July 1905. By 1908 he had joined the 51st Sikhs
and is listed in the records as a 'double company officer'. He was promoted captain
on 22 April 1912.
During operations in the Tochi Valley
area of the North West Frontier in 1914–1915 he was attached to the North Waziristan Militia and on 7 January 1915 was killed in action. His bravery during these operations earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross.
, and is commemorated on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate)
.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(28 November 1883 – 7 January 1915) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Born in Kidderminster
Kidderminster
Kidderminster is a town, in the Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire, England. It is located approximately seventeen miles south-west of Birmingham city centre and approximately fifteen miles north of Worcester city centre. The 2001 census recorded a population of 55,182 in the town...
28 November 1883, Jotham attended Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School
Bromsgrove School, founded in 1553, is a co-educational independent school in the Worcestershire town of Bromsgrove, England. The school has a long history and many notable former pupils.-History:...
from 1899. In 1901, at the age of 18, he left to attend the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment
North Staffordshire Regiment
The North Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, which was in existence between 1881 and 1959. It can date its lineage back to 1756 with the formation of a second battalion by the 11th Regiment of Foot, which shortly after became the 64th Regiment of Foot...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
on 22 April 1903 and joined the 2nd battalion, embarking for a tour of duty in India.
In 1903 Jotham sailed to India with the North Staffords and served with them until 1905. Under the Indian Army regulations for admission paragraph 13 British army officers could transfer to the Indian army. Jotham transferred to the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
on 23 June 1905 (backdated to his commissioning date in 1903), and promoted to lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in the 102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers
102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers
The 102nd Prince of Wales's Own Grenadiers were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1796, when they were raised as the 13th Battalion, Bombay Native Infantry....
on 22 July 1905. By 1908 he had joined the 51st Sikhs
51st Sikhs (Frontier Force)
The 51st Sikhs was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1846 as the 1st Regiment of Infantry The Frontier Brigade. It was designated as the 51st Sikhs in 1903 and became 1st Battalion 12th Frontier Force Regiment in 1922...
and is listed in the records as a 'double company officer'. He was promoted captain
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
on 22 April 1912.
During operations in the Tochi Valley
Tochi Valley
Tochi Valley, , is one of the main routes into Afghanistan from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan.The Tochi Valley leads from Bannu District through tribal areas, and is inhabited by the Dawari tribe. The valley is divided into two parts, known as Upper and Lower Dawar, by a narrow pass called the...
area of the North West Frontier in 1914–1915 he was attached to the North Waziristan Militia and on 7 January 1915 was killed in action. His bravery during these operations earned him a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Citation
He was buried in the Miranshar Cemetery, North WaziristanNorth Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
, and is commemorated on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate)
India Gate
The India Gate is the national monument of India. Situated in the heart of New Delhi, India Gate was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It was built in 1931...
.