| Hammond | Arthur George | | Lieutenant Colonel | HAMMOND, ARTHUR GEORGE, Captain, was born 28 September 1843, the son of Major Thomas John Hammond, HEICS, and his wife, Anne Hammond (nee Warren). He was educated at King Edward VI. School, Sherborne, Dorset, and at Addiscombe College, which he entered in February 1861, and on 7 June of the same year obtained his commission, gaining 2nd place in the examination and taking four prizes. He landed at Calcutta on the 31st December 1861, and was attached to Her Majesty's 82nd Regiment, then quartered at Delhi. On the 17th October 1862, he joined the 12th (Kalat-i-Ghilzai) Native Infantry, and having passed the PH examination in Hindustani, was posted in September 1863, to the Corps of Guides, which regiment he joined 17 September at Mardan. The Guides formed part of the army then being assembled for the Umbeyla Campaign, and Lieutenant Hammond was placed in command of a detachment of the corps which was left to hold the fort at Mardan. In May, 1864, he was appointed Quartermaster of his regiment ; in November 1865, Wing-Commander; in June, 1867, he was admitted to the Bengal Staff Corps, and in April, 1875, he passed in Military Surveying and Field Engineering at the Rurki College by "the Higher Standard with great credit". Captain Hammond served with the QVO Corps of Guides as Wing-Commander through the whole of the Jowaki Campaign of 1877-1878, including the capture of Fayah and Jammu, and the forcing of the Naru-Kula Pass. Twice he was mentioned in Despatches and "specially thanked for gallant conduct" by General Keyes (GO 738), 9 August 1878 (North-West Frontier Medal and two clasps). In 1878 he was with his regiment in the operations against the Ranizai village of Skhakat, 14 September, and in the attack on the Utman Khel villages on the 21st of the same month. He served with the Guide Infantry throughout the whole of the Afghan Campaign of 1878-79— 80. Besides taking part in many minor affairs, he was present at the storming of the Takht-i-Shah on the 13th and the Asmai Heights on the 14th of December, the march into Koh-i-Damon, and the second action at Charasiah on the 25th April 1880. He was mentioned in Despatches (23 January 1880) by Sir F Roberts, who says: "Another officer who greatly distinguished himself on this occasion was Captain A G Hammond, Queen's Own Corps of Guides. He had been very forward during the storming of the Asmai Heights, and now, when the enemy were crowding up the western slopes, he remained with a few men on the ridge until the Afghans were within thirty yards of them. During the retirement, one of the men of the Guides was shot. Captain Hammond stopped and assisted in carrying him away, though the enemy were at the time close by and firing heavily". (GOCC No 137). For his services on this day Captain Hammond was awarded the Victoria Cross. He also received the Afghan Medal and two clasps. His Victoria Cross was gazetted 18 October 1881: "Arthur George Hammond, Captain (now Major), Bengal Staff Corps. For conspicuous coolness and gallantry at the action on the Asmai Heights, near Kabul, on the 14th December 1879, in defending the top of the hill, with a rifle and fixed bayonet, against large numbers of the enemy, while the 72nd Highlanders and Guides were retiring; and again, on the retreat down the hill, in stopping to assist in carrying away a wounded sepoy, the enemy being not 60 yards off, firing heavily all the time". During the Hazara Campaign of 1888, he commanded the 3rd Sikhs; was mentioned in Despatches, received a clasp to the North-West Frontier Medal and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 12 April 1889]: "Arthur George Hammond, Bengal Staff Corps". Was Commandant Queen's Own Corps of Guides from 1 February 1891 to 28 September 1895. In the Hazara Campaign of 1891 Brigadier General Hammond commanded the Right Column up to 17 July 1891, and commanded the Hazara Field Force 17 July 1891 to 2 December 1891. He was thus mentioned in Despatches by General Elles: "Brigadier General Hammond in his detached operations exhibited an energy and resource worthy of all praise". (GOD, 28 August 1891). Brigadier General Hammond received a clasp to the North-West Frontier Medal, and was created a CB in 1892, in the Isazai Expedition, he was Brigadier-General Commanding the 2nd Brigade Communications and the 4th Brigade. In the Relief of Chitral he was Brigadier General Commanding Communications and the 4th Brigade, and was mentioned in Despatches (GOD, 998, dated 27 September 1895), Medal and clasp. In 1897 he was Brigadier-General Commanding the Assam Brigade. He commanded the Peshawar Column and later the 3rd Brigade, Khyber Field Force, in the Tirah Campaign of 1897-98. He was mentioned in Despatches and received two clasps to India Medal of 1895. From 1890 to 1898 he was ADC to Queen Victoria from Colonelcy. In 1903 he was created a KCB. In 1907 he received the Jubilee Medal. In 1898 Colonel A G Hammond was awarded a Good Service Pension. On 2 June 1886, at St. George's, Campden Hill, London, he married Edith Jane, daughter of Major H J Wright, MS Corps, Indian Army. They had three children: Edith Amber; Veronica Ruth, and Arthur Verney, born 16 October 1892.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Bengal Staff Corps |
