Sir Henry Wilmot, 5th Baronet


Colonel Sir Henry Wilmot, 5th Baronet was an English 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. He was also a Conservative Party politician.

Early life

Wilmot was born in Chaddesden, near Derby the son of Sir Henry Wilmot and his wife Maria Mundy daughter of Edmund Mundy of Shipley Hall. He was educated at Rugby School.

Military career

Wilmot purchased a commission as an Ensign in the 43rd Regiment of Foot. Two years later he purchased a Lieutenancy and in 1855 purchased a Captaincy in the same regiment. Later in 1855 he transferred to the Rifle Brigade, still as a Captain.
Wilmot served as a captain in the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade and later was on the staff of Brigadier General Hope Grant. It was while assigned to the staff that he fought in the Indian Mutiny; on 11 March 1858 at Lucknow, India, along with Private David Hawkes and Corporal William Nash, the following deed led to his being awarded the Victoria Cross:
Later, he served in the Oudh campaign of 1858-9 and the Second China War.
In 1862, Wilmot retired from the regular army having been appointed a Major in the Volunteer Force unit, the 1st Administrative Battalion, Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers. Appointment as lieutenant colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers followed in 1863. Further recognition was made in 1868 when Wilmot was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Derbyshire In 1881 he was granted the honorary rank of colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Volunteers, prior to resigning his commission and being appointed honorary Colonel of the Derbyshire Rifle Corps. With the expansion of the Volunteer Force Wilmot was appointed as brigade commander of the North Midland Brigade in 1888 with the substantive rank of Colonel in the Volunteer Forces an appointment he held until 1895.

Personal life

Wilmot married Charlotte Pare in 1862. He succeeded to the baronetcy of Wilmot of Chaddesden on the death of his father in 1872 and was made a Companion of the Bath in the Civil Division of the Order in 1881. A final honour in 1898 was to be appointed a Knight Commander of the Bath.
Henry Wilmot died of pneumonia on 7 April 1901 at his home in Bournemouth and was buried at St Mary's Church, Chaddesden.

Political career

Wilmot sat as a Member of Parliament for South Derbyshire from 1869 to 1885. He was also an alderman of Derbyshire and had been chairman of the County Council.