HC Deb 14 July 1898 vol 61 cc948-9
SIR W. FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the gallant conduct of Surgeon Lieutenant V. Hugo, of the Malakand Field Force, under the following circumstances:—Lieutenant Ford was dangerously wounded in the shoulder, and was bleeding to death from the bullet having cut the main artery, when Surgeon Lieutenant Hugo came to his aid. The fire was too hot to permit lights to be used to examine the wound, and there was no cover, nevertheless the surgeon struck a match and examined the wound. The match went out amid a splutter of bullets, which kicked up the dust all round, but by its uncertain light he saw the nature of the injury, and seized the bleeding artery, and, as no ligature was available, he remained for three hours under fire holding the vessel between his finger and thumb. When at length it seemed that the enemy had broken into camp, he picked up the officer, who was unconscious from loss of blood, and bore him into a place of safety without relaxing his hold of the artery; and whether the authorities have taken steps to reward suitably this splendid act of devotion?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

The officer who performed the gallant action referred to by the honourable Member was Surgeon Lieutenant J. H. Hugo, who, for his services in the late campaign, has received the decoration of the Distinguished Service Order.