James Travers
| James Travers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
6 October 1820 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 1 April 1884 (aged 63) Pallanza, Italy |
| Buried at | Municipal Ossuary, Pallanza |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
Bengal Army British Indian Army
|
| Years of service | 1838 - 1881 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 2nd Bengal Native Infantry |
| Battles/wars |
First Anglo-Afghan War First Anglo-Sikh War Indian Mutiny |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Order of the Bath |
General James Travers VC CB (6 October 1820 – 1 April 1884) was an Irish 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.
James Travers came from a distinguished Anglo-Irish military family, and all seven of his brothers (three of whom were killed in India) served in the armed forces. They were the sons of Major-General Sir Robert Travers (1770–1834) C.B., K.C.M.G., of the 95th Rifle Brigade, who was one of six brothers who again all served in the military, and one of three to be knighted for their services, including Rear-Admiral Sir (1777–1858), who was engaged in battle with the enemy upwards of over one hundred times, and was mentioned in dispatches eight times for gallantry. James Travers grew up in County Cork, where the first of his ancestors to be born there, Sir Robert Travers. was killed at the Battle of Knocknanuss in 1647. James Travers was educated at Addiscombe Military Seminary.
James Travers was educated at the military college at Addiscombe. He received a commission in the Bengal infantry and arrived in Calcutta in January 1838. He served with the 57th native infantry at Barrackpore and then the 2nd native infantry at Firozpur. He served with this regiment in Afghanistan between 1840 and 1842, being mentioned in despatches in action at Zamin-Dawar, was involved in a cavalry fight at Mukur, was at the capture of Ghazni and the actions at Beni-badain and Maidan. On his return to Firozpur he was awarded three medals and recommended to be Major by brevet on attaining the rank of Captain. He was appointed adjutant to the Bhopal contingent in March 1843 and promoted to Captain and brevet Major in January 1846. He was involved in the battle of Sobraon and mentioned in despatches. He was appointed second in command of the Bhopal contingent in March 1846, promoted to Lt-Colonel on 20 June 1854, and on 15 February 1856 to be commandant. In 1856, he commanded a force in the field against the rebel Sankar Singh. After the outbreak of the mutiny in 1857, he moved from Bhopal to Indur and assumed command of the forces there. Travers was 36 years old, and a Colonel in the 2nd Bengal Native Infantry, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed led to his award of the Victoria Cross:
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Wikipedia