Captain Charles John Stanley Gough, 5th [Bengal] European Cavalry winning the VC at Khurkowhah, Indian Mutiny, 15 August 1857

Oil on canvas, by Louis William Desanges, 1860 (c).

The dates of the acts of bravery for which Charles Gough (1832-1912),was awarded the Victoria Cross were 15 and 18 August 1857, and 27 January and 28 February 1858. This included saving the life of his brother Hugh on 15 August 1857 at Khurkowdah near Rhotuck and on another occasion he rescued Major O H St John.

This painting is one of a series of 55 depicting Victoria Cross subjects executed between 1859 and 1862 by the British artist Louis Desanges, and displayed at the Crystal Palace during the 1860s and 1870s.