JOHN GEORGE HEUGH, COMMANDER, D.S.O., ROYAL NAVY

JOHN GEORGE HEUGH, COMMANDER, D.S.O., ROYAL NAVY

13 Oct, 1855, Born, Cape Town, South Africa

1870, Entered Royal Navy

14 Dec 1871, Navigating Cadet

9 Oct 1872, Navigating Midshipman on HMS Narcissus (Flagship, Detached Squadron)

11 Jan 1873, Navigating Midshipman on HMS Endymion (Frigate, Detached Squadron)

6 Jul 1874, Navigating Midshipman on HMS Volage (Steam Iron Corvette, Particular Service)

20 Dec 1875, Promoted to Navigating Sub-Lieutenant.

25 Oct 1876, Navigating Sub-Lieutenant on HMS Active (Flagship, Cape of Good Hope & West Coast of Africa Squadron); Served ashore from 21 Dec 1878 to 21 Jul 1879. On 23 Dec ’78 Sub-Lt. Heugh was in charge of boat and bridge equipment to be taken to the naval brigade already at the Lower Tugela and to report himself to Commander Campbell; arriving on 4 Jan ’79. Sub-Lt. Heugh was assigned to the 2nd Division of Pearson’s column and was in charge of a small part of the naval brigade with two 7 lb. guns. Being at the rear of the 2nd Division Heugh’s party was present, but took no part in the battle of Inyezane. Afterwards he was with the rest of the naval brigade at Eshowe until it was relieved 4 Apr ’79. Sub-Lt. Heugh subsequently accompanied the naval brigade that joined General Crealock’s column, and advance to Port Durnford. Awarded medal with Clasp “1879”; M.I.D.

6 Nov 1879, promoted to Navigating Lieutenant for services in Zulu War.

30 Sep 1880, Student Lieutenant at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, Kent

1 Sep 1881, Navigating Lieutenant, HMS Falcon (Composite Gun Vessel, Mediterranean); was present at the seizure of the canal and the destruction of Aboukir Bay Forts during the Egyptian War, 1882. Awarded the Egypt Medal and Khedive Star.

16 Apr 1885, Lieutenant on HMS Iron Duke (Iron Steam Ship, Armor Plated, Devonport and Channel Squadron)

1890, Lieutenant and Commander on HMS Rattler (Screw Gunboat, China Squadron); Received the thanks of The Admiralty for maneuvering HMS Rattler during a severe gale in the Japanese Sea.

12 Apr 1892, The Mercury (Hobart, Tazmania) reports “HMS Hyacinth, screw cruiser, 8 guns, Captain R. W. Craigie; and the Rattler, screw gunboat, 6 guns, Commander John G. Heugh, both of the China Station, have been ordered to proceed from Pekin to Pahang to protect Australian miners at Raub, now threatened by rebel Malays.”

25 Aug 1894, Lieutenant and Commander on HMS Alecto during operations against Chief Nana in the Benin River; while proceeding in the ship’s steam cutter up a creek when attacked by heavy fire from the shore. Several of the crew killed and wounded. Heugh was able to get the cutter away and back to the ‘Alecto’ although wounded himself and the cutter sinking under them; awarded the East and West Africa Medal with clasp “Benin River 1894”.

21 Dec 1894, Appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and promoted to Commander for services in the campaign against Chief Nana.

1 Jan 1897, Commander on HMS Galatea (Coastguard Ship, Hull). Heugh is tried by Court Martial onboard HMS Forte, at Chatham, and found guilty of “being unfit for duty by heavy drinking.” The charges were brought against him by the Galatea’s commanding officer, Captain Count Frederick C. Metaxa. Heugh’s defense was that his delirium was caused by ague and fever; his health being greatly impaired by long service in trying climates abroad. The court found Heugh guilty, and ordered that “he should be severely reprimanded, forfeit six months’ seniority as a commander, and be dismissed his ship.” This court martial brought a sad ending for one who had a splendid record of efficiency and gallantry during his naval career.

21 Apr 1897, Commander John G. Heugh, D.S.O. placed on the retired List of his rank, at his own request.

5 Aug 1897, there is an adjudication against Heugh in the High Court of Justice in Bankruptcy.

24 Oct 1903, Commander John G. Heugh, D.S.O., R.N., Retired List, becomes Lieutenant Instructor in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

4 Feb 1904, The High Court of Justice in Bankruptcy in its decision found that “he (Heugh) had brought on his bankruptcy by unjustifiable extravagance in living, and by betting.”

Jun, 1904, John George Heugh, D.S.O., retired Commander, R.N. promoted to the rank of Commander Instructor, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

19 Mar 1915, Death of John George Heugh, age 59, late of 17 Cheyne Court, Chelsea, in the county of London.

Petty Officer Tom

Benin River, 1894. The bar for BENIN RIVER 1894 was issued to those sailors and marines of H.M.S. "Alecto," "Philomel," "Phoebe," and "Widgeon" who, assisted by Houssas, fought against the chief Nana, the terror of the inhabitants of the Benin River, whom he had plundered for a number of years. The steam launch of the " Alecto," while steaming up the narrow creek leading to the stronghold Brohemie, on August 25th, was fired upon by a concealed battery, the steersman shot dead, and every man on board wounded. In this unfortunate affair Chief Petty Officer Crouch and Leading Stoker Joseph Perkins earned the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for their exceeding bravery. On September 18th Brohemie was attacked and captured, and the expedition proceeded to another fortified town three miles distant, and this
also was captured, together with Nana's war canoes, which had helped him so much in his depredations. Brohemie was then placed under the Niger Coast Protectorate. Commander Heugh and Lieutenants Hickley and Gore-Browne gained the D.S.O. in these operations.

BRITISH TREATY WITH ITSEKIRI OF BENIN RIVER August 2, 1894

http://www.waado.org/urhobohistory/nigerdelta/colonialtreaties/ItsekiriTreaties/1894Treaty.html

Tom. Click on link above for copy of TREATY WITH ITSEKIRI OF BENIN RIVER. For some reason JOHN GEORGE HEUGH Initials differ from what written on treaty. It appears to be J.S.Heugh. See photo below..

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littlehand,

I think you are correct. The middle initial in his signature does look like an "S". Since his middle name is George, I am at a loss as to why he would sign his name that way unless, he was trying to be fancy with his pen stroke and makes his "g's" look like "s's". Would have to see other examples of his signature.

Petty Officer Tom