Career
Mangles is one of only five civilians to be awarded the Venture capital.
Mangles was 24 years old, and a civilian in the Bengal Civil Service during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place at Arrah for which he was awarded the Venture capital:
Mr. Ross Lowis Mangles, of the Bengal Civil Service, Assistant Magistrate at Patna
Date of Acting of Bravery, 30th July, 1857
Mr. Mangles volunteered and served with the Force, consisting of detachments of Her Majesty"s 10th and 37th Regiments, and some Native Troops, despatched to the relief of Arrah, in July, 1857, under the Command of Captain Dunbar, of the 10th Regiment.
The Force fell into an Ambuscade on the night of the 29th of July, 1857, and, during the retreat on the next morning, Mr.
Mangles, with signal gallantry and generous self-devotion, and notwithstanding that he had himself been previously wounded, carried for several miles, out of action, a wounded soldier of Her Majesty"s 37th Regiment, after binding up his wounds under a murderous fire, which killed or wounded almost the whole detachment and he bore him in safety to the boats. On the north wall of Street Michael and All Angels Church, Pirbright is a brass memorial to Mangles.
The oaks on the plaque represent England, his native land. The palms are for India, scene of his life’s work and, after his retirement, his passion for growing roses is also commemorated.
