Victoria Cross Recipient. Born Howard Crauford Elphinstone, in the Governorate of Livonia within the Russian Empire, the son of Captain Alexander Francis Elphinstone, Royal Navy and Amelia Ann Lobach. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolich joining the Corps of Royal Engineers and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1847. After the outbreak of hostilities, he was posted to the Crimea, and during the Siege of Sebastopol he earned a Victoria Cross, the citation for which read: "For fearless conduct, in having, on the night after the unsuccessful attack on the Redan, volunteered to command a party of volunteers, who proceeded to search for and bring back the scaling ladders left behind after the repulse; and while successfully performing this task, of rescuing trophies from the Russians, Captain Elphinstone conducted a persevering search, close to the enemy, for wounded men, twenty of whom he rescued and brought back to the Trenches." At war's end he was also awarded the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur by Napoleon III and the Order of the Medjidie (5th Class) by Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid I. In 1859, he joined the Royal Household, serving as governor to Princes Arthur and Leopold. In 1865, he was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Bath. In 1873 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, returning to military service, and was promoted to Colonel in 1881. From 1884 to 1885 he served as military attache in Berlin and in 1887 he was promoted to Major-General. Three years later, while traveling to Madeira aboard RMS Tongariro, they met high seas and strong winds and Sir Howard fell overboard off the island of Ushant, and drowned at age 60.
Victoria Cross Recipient. Born Howard Crauford Elphinstone, in the Governorate of Livonia within the Russian Empire, the son of Captain Alexander Francis Elphinstone, Royal Navy and Amelia Ann Lobach. He entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolich joining the Corps of Royal Engineers and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in December 1847. After the outbreak of hostilities, he was posted to the Crimea, and during the Siege of Sebastopol he earned a Victoria Cross, the citation for which read: "For fearless conduct, in having, on the night after the unsuccessful attack on the Redan, volunteered to command a party of volunteers, who proceeded to search for and bring back the scaling ladders left behind after the repulse; and while successfully performing this task, of rescuing trophies from the Russians, Captain Elphinstone conducted a persevering search, close to the enemy, for wounded men, twenty of whom he rescued and brought back to the Trenches." At war's end he was also awarded the Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur by Napoleon III and the Order of the Medjidie (5th Class) by Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid I. In 1859, he joined the Royal Household, serving as governor to Princes Arthur and Leopold. In 1865, he was invested as a Knight Commander, Order of the Bath. In 1873 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, returning to military service, and was promoted to Colonel in 1881. From 1884 to 1885 he served as military attache in Berlin and in 1887 he was promoted to Major-General. Three years later, while traveling to Madeira aboard RMS Tongariro, they met high seas and strong winds and Sir Howard fell overboard off the island of Ushant, and drowned at age 60.
Bio by: Iola
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