66 AWARDED FOR VALOUR
21 September 1857 from Headquarters, Delhi City, by Major General Arch-
dale Wilson, detailing the provisional award of the VC to Bugler Robert
Hawthorn and Lance Corporal Henry Smith. He sent a directive to Sir Colin
Campbell, the Commander-in-Chief, India, to limit the number of Crosses
conferred provisionally:
I am of the opinion that it would be attended by convenience to the
interests of the public service that in the case of all claims which may in
future arise to the distinction of the Victoria Cross during the progress of
the present operations in India, the recommendations in any case should
reach me through yourself, as the officer in supreme command; I have
accordingly to express to you that it would be advisable that general
instructions to this effect should be issued to general & other officers in
command, so as to obviate the delay which must take place from the
making of a reference back to India before the appointments in any case
can be submitted to her Majesty’s confirmation.^79
Peel did not prohibit provisional VCs, as they were statutory law in the
warrant. The clause was, though, dangerously open to abuse, as can be seen
in the case of Lieutenant Henry Masham Havelock.
Lieutenant Havelock was awarded the VC provisionally in the field by
his own father, Brigadier General Henry Havelock. He got it for taking part
in the storming of the Char-Bagh Bridge on 16 July 1857 along with a
few thousand other officers and men in the process of forcing entry into
Lucknow.^80 The reason he was singled out for bravery was that he led his
section of infantry whilst mounted, and all the other (cowardly?) officers
led their charge on foot. Major General Sir James Outram^81 submitted a
glowing report as to what a good officer the younger Havelock had been
during the attack. On this basis Havelock senior felt justified in giving his
son a Cross on the spot, rather than go through the regular channels of
submission. As Havelock senior reported, ‘On this spontaneous statement
of the Major General, the Brigadier General consents to award the Cross
to this officer which act if originating from himself, might from the near
relationship Lieutenant Havelock bears to him assume the appearance of
undue partiality.’^82
It certainly did bear that appearance, especially to other officers. Despite
the disclaimer, the Havelock VC was widely accepted in India as pure
favoritism. The blatant nepotism of the provisional bestowal was only rein-
forced by Havelock senior’s recommendation of a bar for the VC for a
later act of heroism by Havelock junior before the original award had been
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