Born c. December 1833, the son of Hugh Montgomery of Ballydrain, near Dunmurray, Co. Antrim.
Educated at Harrow School and Cambridge University.
Cornet in the 13th Light Dragoons: 17th of January 1851.
1851 Census
Piershill Barracks, Leith, Midlothian.
Hugh Montgomery, 17, Officer, Cornet, born Belfast.
In his letter of recommendation Major-General Philip Bainbrigg, Deputy Quarter-Master General of Ireland, wrote:
His father is a Belfast banker of repute, possessed of a large acreage of property and financially in a position to make his son any allowance which may be considered necessary... Not very tall, only about 5' 6" in height, is very gentlemanly in his manners, intelligent, and likely to make a good officer.
Cornet Montgomery served the Eastern campaign of 1854, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and three clasps.)
Killed in action at Balaclava on the 25th October 1854.
He is said [PB: by whom?] to have been seen in combat with six Russian hussars, of whom he shot two and chased the other two off with his sword. He retreated with the last straggling groups, but seeing two of his men out-numbered, returned to assist in their rescue. He received a fatal pistol-shot in the neck.
[PB: The above reads like a quotation. If so, source?]
Soame Gambier Jenyns wrote of him in a letter:
"Montgomery was my right troop leader (First squadron) and I saw him safely into the guns: after that, on returning, he was seen dead on his face, poor fellow."
[Source?]
[PB: W[illiam?] Inglis, 5th Dragoon Guards, writing to his mother shortly after the Charge, on 2 November 1854, mentions Hugh Montgomery's death. The "Montgomery" he refers to, also 5th Dragoon Guards, was High Montgomery's cousin. Who was the "Neville" he refers to? Delete if not relevant.]
Montgomery is quite well, he was breakfasting with me this morning on some of my treasures. Have you heard of his poor little cousin of the 13th — he was one of the unhappy Light Brigade who fell a victim to the terrible mistake of the 25th. Neville is reported better — poor fellow he always said that the first charge would settle fine.
[Source: W. Inglis, 5th Dragoon Guards, MSS letters sent from the Crimea 1854-55. Copies in archive.]
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Sebastopol, and the Turkish Medal.
There is a family memorial gravestone in Drumbey churchyard (parish of Ballydrain, Co. Antrim) on which he is commemorated and also a "Balaclava" stained glass window in the church.
Census information for 1851 kindly provided by Chris Poole.