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Hugh Rowlands was the second son of minor Welsh landowner John Rowlands and his wife Elizabeth (née Hartwell) of Plas Tirion, Llanrug, and claimed descent from Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys, and Dafydd ap Llywelyn, Prince of Gwynedd. He was educated at Beaumaris Grammar School and Mr John Taylor's Cramming Academy, Woolwich.
Rowlands was 26 years old, and a captain in the 41st (Welsh) Regiment of Foot, British Army during the Crimean War. He first saw action at the battle of the Alma in September 1856 and was present at Little Inkerman the following month.
On 5 November 1854 in the Crimea at Inkerman, Captain Rowlands and Private John McDermond rescued Colonel Hayly of the 47th Regiment who had been wounded and surrounded by Russian soldiers. He also acted with great gallantry in holding the ground occupied by his advanced picquet against the enemy at the commencement of the Battle of Inkerman. For this action he became the first Welshman to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
He further distinguished himself during the siege of Sevastopol and was nominated for a Victoria Cross in recognition of his action during the second assault on the Redan in September 1855.
After service in the West Indies and India he was a Special Service officer in South Africa in 1878 and 1879. He was appointed Commandant of the Transvaal in 1878 and led an unsuccessful assault on the Pedi stronghold of Chief Sekukuni. He served as a brigadier-general during the later stages of the Zulu War.
His latter years of service were spent in India where he commanded the Bangalore Division of the Madras Army and, on two occasions, took temporary command if the Madras Army. Returning to Britain he was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London and GOC the North British District.
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