b. 10/1833 Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. d. 16/05/1879 Exeter, Devon.
George Hollis (1833-1879) was born during October 1833 in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. He had an affinity with horses from a young age, and enlisted with the 8th Hussars as a Farrier on 20th November 1855.
George Hollis VC Grave
On 17th June 1858 at Gwalior, during the Indian Mutiny, he joined Captain Clement Heneage, Sergeant Joseph Ward and Private John Pearson, in participating in a charge against a rebel force who were threatening the position of Brigadier Smith. They then charged into the rebel camp and took two enemy guns under heavy fire.
After the Mutiny, he left the Army and moved to Exeter in Devon. On the 9th November 1860, he received his VC from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. He then took employment with Sanders and Snow, a wine merchant in Exeter. He later married and lived in Cowick Street. He died at his home on 16th May 1879 and was buried in Exwick Cemetery, Exeter, with a handsome headstone erected by his wife.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: EXWICK CEMETERY, EXETER, DEVON. INTERMENT 191, GRAVE 365
Acknowledgement:
Kevin Brazier – Images of George Hollis’ VC Grave and Exwick Cemetery Map.