Name : Army Medical Department Started : 1863 Ended : 1898 Subsequent Regiment Lineage : ---------------------------------------- Royal Army Medical Corps (1898 - Present)
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Surgeon Herbert Reade VC.
Born in Perth, Canada, on 20th September 1828, the son of Staff Surgeon George Hume Reade, who became Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Canadian Militia and died at Scutari in 1854. He was also the elder brother of Surgeon General Sir John Reade, KCB, KStJ, QHS, KHS.
Herbert Reade was educated in Canada and qualified in Dublin joining the army as Assistant Surgeon to the 61st Foot (Gloucesters) in 1850. In 1857 he was promoted Staff Surgeon 2nd Class, saw actionduring the Indian Mutiny and took part in the attack on Ferozepore, and the Siege and Assault on Dehli in the same year, gaining his Victoria Cross while with the Regiment. The citation reads:
"Dates of Acts of Bravery: 14 and 16 Sept 1857. During the siege of Dehli, and on the 14th Sep 1857, while Surgeon Reade was attending to the wounded at the end of one of the streets of the city, a party of rebels advanced from the direction of the Bank, and, having established themselves in the houses of the street, commenced firing from the roofs. The wounded were thus in very great danger, and would have fallen into the hands of the enemy, had not Surgeon Reade drawn his sword, and calling upon the few soldiers who were near to follow, succeeded after heavy fire, in dislodging the rebels.
Text supplied by Royal Army Medical Corps Historical Museum.
Deputy Inspector General Joseph Jee VC
Won his VC at the Relief of Lucknow, for attending the wounded of the 78th Highlanders and getting them to safety, 25th September 1875. In the British Medical Journal Obituary of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals Joseph Jee, it states "... no mere man ever deserved the Victoria Cross more than this gallant non-combatant".Joseph Jee was born on 9th February 1819 at Hartshill, Atherstone, Warwickshire, the son of Christopher Preston Jee Esq: in 1860 he married Nora Carola Riley, the daughter of Charles Riley Esq., Barraster-at-Law. Educated at Universities and Medical Schools in London, Edinburgh and Paris, he qualified MRCS in 1841, and the following year was commissioned into the Army as Assistant Surgeon to the 15th Hussars. Soon afterwards he transferred to the 1st Royal Dragoons, and in 1854 was promoted to the 78th (Seaforth) Highlanders. He served with that regiment in the Persian Campaign in 1857 and was present at the Battle of Kooshab when his charger was shot under him, and also at the Bombardment of Mohammen, at which he was awarded the Medal at Clasp.
Upon the outbreak of the Mutiny his battalion was hurried to India, and Surgeon Jee was present at Relief and Defence of Lucknow, the Action at Alumbagh, the final Capture of Lucknow, the Rohilkund Campaign and the Capture of Bareilly. But it was at Lucknow that he displayed that extraordinary devotion and gallantry which resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross.
"For most conspicuous gallantry and important services on the entry of the late Major-General Havelock's relieving force into Lucknow, on the 25th September 1857, in having, during action (when the 78th Highlanders, then in possession of the Char Bagh, captured two 9-pounders at the point of the bayonet), by great exertion and devoted exposure, attended to the large number of men wounded in the charge, whom he succeeded in getting removed on cots and the backs of their comrades, until he had collected the dhooly-bearers who had fled. Subsequently on the same day, in endeavouring to reach the Residency with the wounded men, Surgeon Jee became besieged by an overwhelming force in the Mote Mehal, where he remained during the whole night and the following morning, voluntarily and repeatedly exposing himself to a heavy fire in proceeding to dress the wounded men who fell while serving a 24-pounder in a most exposed position. He eventually succeeded in taking many of the wounded through a crossfire of ordnance and musketry safely into the Residency by the river bank, although repeatedly warned not to make the perilous attempt."
He transferred to the Royal Dragoons in 1864 and became Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals four years later. Appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath 1859, he retired with the rank of Deputy Surgeon General in 1868. In the year of his death Joseph Jee was appointed an honorary Surgeon to HM Queen Victoria. Joseph Jee was a man greatly admired "known to his friends as a most honourable man; a complete Englishman in his love of sport". He was a dedicated salmon fisherman and a deadly shot having won the Pigeon Shooting Grand Prize at Monte Carlo. He died at the age of 80 years at his home in Quenilborough Hall, Queensborough, near Leicester on 17th March 1899.
Text supplied by Royal Army Medical Corps Historical Museum.
Surgeon Major Thomas Egerton Hale
Won his VC while serving with the 7th Regiment, Royal Fusiliers, at the Siege of Sebastopol. Under heavy fire, he carried several wounded men across open ground to safety, 8th September 1855.
Thomas Egerton Hale was born on 24th September 1832 at Faddiley, near Nantwich, the son of G.P. Hale of Faddiley. His education was at Grove Park School, Wrexham, and Kings College London. He qualified MRCS England 1854 and MD St Andrews in 1855. The same year he entered the army after basic training as Assistant Surgeon to the 7th Foot (1st Battalion The Royal Fusiliers) and won the Victoria Cross in the first three months of his new appointment, at the Siege of Sebastopol during the attack on the Redan.
"Dates of Acts of Bravery: 8 September 1855. One for remaining with an officer who was dangerously wounded (Capt H. M. Jones 5th Regiment) in the fifth parallel on 8 Sept 1855, when all the men in the immediate neighbourhood retreated, excepting Lieut W. Hope and Dr Hale; and for endeavouring to rally the men, in conjunction with Lieut. W. Hope, 7th Regt, The Royal Fusiliers. Two for having on 8 Sept 1855, after the regiment had retired into the trenches, cleared the most advanced sap of the wounded, and carried into the sap, under heavy fire, several wounded men from the open ground, being assisted by Sgt. Charles Fisher, 7th Regt, The Royal Fusiliers."
At the time of winning the Victoria Cross, Assistant Surgeon Hale was aged 23 years. He served in Turkey and the Crimea from 1854 to 1856 and was also present at the Bombardment of Sebastopol. In addition he gained the Crimean Medal and clasp, and the Turkish Crimean Medal. In 1857 Surgeon Hale was present during the latter part of the Indian Mutiny being in medical charge of a field force detached to the Trans-India Frontier. Thereafter he was in medical charge at Cherat in the Peshawar Hills in 1860 and Civil Surgeon at Ferozepore in 1863. From 1864-66 he was medical officer for the Punjab Infantry and for the European detachments on the Punjab Frontier. In 1867 he was promoted Surgeon Major, being placed in charge of Naini Tal Hill Sanatorium.
Surgeon Major Hale was appointed medical officer to the 43rd Regiment of Foot in 1869, and to the 94th Foot four years later. He retired in 1876. On the Jubilee of the Crimea (1905) he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath. Surgeon Major Hale was a man of wide interests: a Justice of the Peace, a keen cricketer, an accomplished rider and a skilful shot. His publications included aspects of Irish history, and he was a fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Historical Society. He died in 1909, on Christmas day at his home at Faddiley Lodge, Nantwich, Cheshire aged 77 years. A memorial tablet can be seen in Acton church, Cheshire.
Text supplied by Royal Army Medical Corps Historical Museum.
Surgeon General Sir James Mouat VC.
Won his VC for voluntarily proceeding to the assistance of LieutenantColonel Morris Cb, 17th lancers, who was lying dangerously wounded in an exposedposition after the retreat of the Light brigade at Balaclava, and having dressedthe Officers wounds and under heavy enemy fire assisted in saving that officer'slife, 26th October 1854.
James Mouat was born on 14 April 1815, at Chatham, Kent, the son of Surgeon James Mouat MD who was medical officer to the 23rd, 25th, 21st, 16th,13th, F., 4th and 15th Dragoons. His uncle was Dr F.J. Mouat distinguished in the Indian Civil Medical Service. James Mouat, the son, was educated at University College Hospital, London, became MRCS in 1837, and proceeded FRCS in 1852. One year after qualification he joined the 44th Regiment of Foot as Assistant Surgeon. Ten years later he was promoted Surgeon and served throughout the Crimean Campaign with the 6th Dragoons, where he was also in charge of the General Field Hospital of the 3rd Division. He was present at the Fall of Sebastopol, the Battles of Tehernaya and Inkerman, and at the charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava his gallantry resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross:
"Date of act of Bravery: 26th Oct 1854. For having voluntarily proceeded to the assistance of Lieut. Colonel Morris, Cb, 17th Lancers, who was lying dangerously wounded in an exposed position after the retreat of Light Cavalry at the Battle of Balaklava, and having dressed the officer's wounds in the presence and under a heavy fire of the enemy. Thus by stopping a severe haemorrhage, he assisted in saving that officer's life".
During the campaign Surgeon Mouat was appointed to the French Legion of Honour, and gained the Crimean Medal with three clasps. In 1855 he was promoted Surgeon Major, and a year later was appointed a Commander of the Order of the Bath. Aged 43 he was given the rank of Deputy Inspector General of Hospitals whilst serving in Turkey. From 1860 to 1861 and again from 1863 to 1865 he served in New Zealand in the Maori Wars, during the latter campaign as Inspector General of Hospitals, being promoted to Surgeon General in 1864. The New Zealand government voted him "special thanks for his valuable Services to the Colony", he was mentioned in despatches and was awarded the campaign medal.
Surgeon General Mouat retired in 1876, was appointed an honourary Surgeon to the Queen in 1888, and a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1894. The British Medical Journal obituary of 1899 described this officer's character:
"One who served under Sir James and knew him well, furnishes the following reminiscences of him: 'There never was a more thoroughly soldierly medical officer than Mouat; he was always faultlessly dressed, whether in uniform or in mufti; nothing annoyed him more than slovenly or shabby attire, especially among medical officers. He had a very sharp tongue, and as he usually got hold of the right end of an argument, was formidable in dispute. As he set no small value on himself or his military position, he always kept up considerable style, and was the only senior medical officer the writer can recall who made his camp inspections in a well-appointed carriage and pair .Sir James Mouat was held in deserved respect by all branches of the service; and in private life was an attached and sincere friend of those who won his esteem'."
Text supplied by Royal Army Medical Corps Historical Museum.
