Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
John Worthy Chaplin, (23 July 1840 – 18 August 1920) was a
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
officer and an English recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
forces.
Details
Chaplin was 20 years old, and an
ensign
An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...
in the
67th Regiment of Foot
The 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1756. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Hampshire Regiment (later the Roy ...
,
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
during the
Second China War
The Second Opium War (), also known as the Second Anglo-Sino War, the Second China War, the Arrow War, or the Anglo-French expedition to China, was a colonial war lasting from 1856 to 1860, which pitted the British Empire and the French Emp ...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 August 1860 at the
Taku Forts
The Taku Forts or Dagu Forts, also called the Peiho Forts are forts located by the Hai River (Peiho River) estuary in the Binhai New Area, Tianjin, in northeastern China. They are located southeast of the Tianjin urban center.
History
The f ...
, China, Ensign Chaplin was carrying the Queen's Colours of the Regiment and first planted the Colours on the breach made by the storming party, assisted by a private. He then planted the Colours on the bastion of the fort which he was the first to mount, but in doing so he was severely wounded.
He achieved the rank of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
. Chaplin was a member of
Boodle's
Boodle's is a London gentlemen's club, founded in January 1762, at No. 50 Pall Mall, London, by Lord Shelburne, the future Marquess of Lansdowne and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
History
The club was originally based next door to Wi ...
club in St James's, London, from 1880 until death.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum and Memorial Garden in
Winchester
Winchester is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city in Hampshire, England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government Districts of England, district, at the western end of the South Downs Nation ...
, England.
References
External links
Location of grave and VC medal''(Leicestershire)''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chaplin, John Worthy
British recipients of the Victoria Cross
67th Regiment of Foot officers
1840 births
1920 deaths
Burials in Leicestershire
Military personnel from Hampshire
British Army personnel of the Second Opium War
Companions of the Order of the Bath
People from Basingstoke and Deane
British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars officers
Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment officers
British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross