of gallantry for which he was to be awarded the Victoria Cross. As a result of his and his troops' gallantry the unit was awarded the title of Tombs's Troop, which – as 28/143 Battery (Tombs's Troop), part of 19th Regiment Royal Artillery – it still carries to this day. Victoria Cross At the age of thirty-one, when a major in the Bengal Horse Artillery, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny, the following deed took place at the Siege of Delhi for which he and James Hills were awarded the VC: Later career For services at the siege of Delhi, Tombs was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in January 1858. In March 1858 he took part in the siege and capture of Lucknow before participating in a number of minor operations. He was promoted brevet colonel in July 1858, and lieutenant-colonel, Royal Artillery, in April 1861. In 1864, as a brigadier-general, he served in the Bhutan War, commanding the force which recaptured Dewangiri Fort. Promoted major-general in March 1867 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in March 1868, Tombs was appointed to command a division in 1871, first at Allahabad, then at Oudh. In 1874 he resigned his command due to ill health and died at Newport, Isle of Wight, on 2 August 1874, aged 49. Assessment Field-Marshall Roberts, a subaltern in during the Indian Rebellion, later wrote:The hero of the day [when he won the VC] was Harry Tombs … an unusually handsome man and a thorough soldier. … I had always heard of Tombs as one of the best officers in the regiment. …. As a cool, bold leader of men Tombs was unsurpassed: no fire, however hot, and no crisis, however unexpected, could take him by surprise; he grasped the situation in a moment, and issued his orders without hesitation, inspiring all ranks with confidence in his power and capacity. He was somewhat of a martinet, and was more feared than liked by his men until they realized what a grand leader he was, when they gave him their entire confidence, and were ready to follow him anywhere and everywhere. At news of Tombs's death, the Commander-in-Chief, India, Lord Napier issued a general order expressing regret at the loss of "so distinguished an officer". The medal His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal