James Hills-Johnes

Born James Hills on 20 August 1833 in Neechindipur, Bengal, India, he was son of James and Charlotte Hills. He was educated at the Edinburgh Academy (1843–1847), the Edinburgh Institution (1847–1850) and the Addiscombe Military Seminary (1851–1853), and was commissioned into the Bengal Artillery. Hills changed his surname to Hills-Johnes in 1882 on his marriage to Elizabeth Johnes, the younger daughter and coheiress of John Johnes of Dolaucothi, Carmarthenshire.

James Hill-Johnes at the Siege of Delhi

Hills-Johnes was a 23 years old second lieutenant in the Bengal Horse Artillery during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at the Siege of Delhi on 9 July 1857 for which he and Henry Tombs were awarded the Victoria Cross:

Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tombs, C.B., and Lieutenant James Hills

Date of Act of Bravery, 9 July 1857

For very gallant conduct on the part of Lieutenant Hills before Delhi, in defending the position assigned to him in case of alarm, and for noble behaviour on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Tombs in twice coming to his subaltern's rescue, and on each occasion killing his man. (See despatch of Lieutenant-Colonel Mackenzie, Commanding 1st Brigade Horse Artillery, dated Camp, near Delhi, 10 July 1857,

published in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 16 January 1858.)[1]

Hills-Johnes was also present at the Siege of Lucknow (1858), fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–80), and was made military governor of Kabul. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1881 and advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1893, he later achieved the rank of lieutenant general in the service of the Royal Artillery.

Memorial to Lt General Sir James Hills-Johnes in the lychgate of the Caio churchyard

Hills-Johnes was High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire in 1886 and made an honorary freeman of the town of Carmarthen in 1910. He also served as a member of Carmarthenshire County Council. He died on 3 January 1919, aged 85, at his Dolaucothi Estate and was buried at Caio, Carmarthenshire.

Hills-Johnes' family history says his younger brother Charles Hills (1847–1935) was the real father of Hollywood actress Merle Oberon.[2] He was the brother-in-law of Lieutenant William George Cubitt VC and uncle of Brigadier Lewis Pugh Evans VC.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, London.

• Vetch, R. H.; Stearn, Roger T. (reviewer) (2011) [2004]. "Hills, Sir John (1834–1902)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33877. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) (includes details of Sir James Hills-Johnes)
• Vibart, H. M. (1894). Addiscombe: its heroes and men of note. Westminster: Archibald Constable. pp. 608–13. OL 23336661M.