Francis Cornwallis Maude

Colonel Francis Cornwallis Maude VC CB (28 October 1828 – 19 October 1900) 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.

Details

Maude was 28 years old, and a captain in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 25 September 1857 at Lucknow, India for which he was awarded the VC:

This officer steadily and cheerily pushed on with his men, and bore down the desperate opposition of the enemy, though with the loss of one-third of his Artillerymen.

Sir James Outram adds, that this attack appeared to him to indicate no reckless or foolhardy daring, but the calm heroism of a true soldier, who fully appreciates the difficulties and dangers of the task he has undertaken and that, but for Captain Maude's nerve and coolness on this trying occasion, the Army could not have advanced. (Extract from Field Force Orders of the late Major-General Havelock, dated 17th October, 1857.)

76 (Maude's) Battery Royal Artillery, the current name for what was his unit at the time, was awarded his name as their title in honour of both his and the units deeds during the battle.

He later achieved the rank of colonel and was appointed Consul-General in Warsaw. He was the cousin of Lieutenant Colonel F. F. Maude VC.