On the 15th April 1858 the Victoria Cross was gained by QM Sergeant John Simpson, Lance Corporal Alexander Thompson, Private James Davis, and Private Edward Spence during an action at Fort Rooyah (Ruhya) which formed part of the Indian Mutiny Campaign 1857-59.
General Walpole was sent with two columns towards Bareillly in order to clear the province of Rohilkand. The column commanded by Brigadier Adrian Hope contained the 42nd. On April 11th, 50 miles north of Lucknow it approached Fort Rooyah, a town in dense jungle surrounded by mud walls.
Although the artillery had not yet arrived, Walpole ordered Hope to attack immediately without any reconnaissance. Hope attacked with four companies of the Black Watch and the 4th regiment of the Punjab Rifles. As they approached over open ground they were met with a hail of fire, which killed amongst others, Brigadier Hope. The 42nd were pinned down for six hours before the order to withdraw was issued by Walpole at dusk. The Fort was left unguarded by Walpole, and the Mutineers slipped away under the cover of darkness.
The two NCOs and the two privates of the 42nd won their VCs by going back under fire to bring in the body of Lt Willoughby of the 4th Punjab Rifles and others. The Black Watch had 32 casualties.
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