Rorke's Drift VC Winners

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Site Index</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Zulu War 1879"><U>Home Page</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Build up and Aftermath"><U>Build up and Aftermath</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT><A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Isandhlwana"><U>Isandhlwana</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift 1879"><U>Rorke's Drift 1879</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Defenders of Rorkes Drift"><U>Roll of Defenders of Rorke's Drift</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift VC Winners"><U>Rorke's Drift</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Rorkes Drift VC Winners"><U>VC Winners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Award Winners"><U>Other Award Winners</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Film Zulu"><U>The Film </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Film Zulu"><U>'Zulu'</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zulu Dawn"><U>The Film </U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zulu Dawn"><U>'Zulu Dawn'</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>The Zulu War 1879</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC99" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT><B>  |  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Zulu War 1879"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="02658020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Rorke's Drift VC Winners</div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="chard"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="382" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 249 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="096c5f00.jpg" border=0 width="197" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13ea7f30.jpg" border=0 width="167" height="243" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Lt. John Rouse Merriott Chard</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(Royal Engineers)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="744" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1765 WIDTH="740"><div> Aged 31, he was in command of Rorke's Drift with Bromhead his second in command, </div> <div> showing great leadership throughout.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div>  <script language=JavaScript>  </script>  </div> <div> John Chard was born near Plymouth in December 1847. His elder brother became a Colonel in the Royal Fusiliers. His younger brother was a clergyman. There were four sisters. He was </div> <div> commissioned into the Royal Engineers in July 1868. He served in Bermuda and Malta. </div> <div> He joined No. 5 Company RE in South Africa in 5 January 1879. </div> <bR> <div> He did not arrive at Rorke's Drift until 19 January and was the senior officer present on 22/23 January 1879, having been left in command by Major Spalding. He was given a brevet Majority after </div> <div> Rorke's Drift. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at St Paul's, Zululand on 16 July 1879. </div> <div>  He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896. </div> <div>  </div> <div> Chard visited Queen Victoria at Balmoral twice in October 1879 and February 1880. He served in Singapore as a Lieutenant Colonel between 1892-1896. He returned to take up a post in Perth in Scotland. Whilst there, he was again invited to see Queen Victoria, but soon began to suffer from cancer. He died at his brother's home at Hatch Beachamp, Somerset in November 1897, aged 49. He never married.</div> <bR> <div> Interestingly, the Republic of South Africa created 'The John Chard decoration' and 'John Chard medal' as long service awards for their Citizen Force. (His VC is in a private collection).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="303" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 80 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13b204a0.jpg" border=0 width="288" height="74" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="293" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 386 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f81d7c0.jpg" border=0 width="285" height="380" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 177 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="11618ab0.jpg" border=0 width="280" height="171" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="bromhead"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="423" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 270 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f5c8060.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="139c8080.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="264" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Lt. Gonville Bromhead</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Aged 33, he was second in command of the post, under Chard, showing great gallantry throughout the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Gonville Bromhead came from a well-known military family. The family home was in Thurlby Hall, Newark. </div> <div> Born at Versailles in August 1845. He was commissioned into 2/24th in April 1867. He was aged 33 at the time </div> <div> of Rorke's Drift. Following the defence he was appointed a brevet Major.</div> <bR> <div> He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht on 22 August 1879. He later served in India and the </div> <div> Burma campaign. He attended two successful courses at School of Musketry, Hythe. He died of Typhoid, </div> <div> unmarried at Camp Dabhaura, Allahabad, India  on the 9th  February 1892. </div> <div> (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="304" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 128 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="13a22790.jpg" border=0 width="290" height="121" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="289" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 384 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f9127a0.jpg" border=0 width="274" height="378" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="dalton"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="263" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 339 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0f6fa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="333" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>James Langley Dalton</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(Commissariat and Transport Department)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Superintended the work of defence and was amongst those receiving the first wave of attack, where he </div> <div> saved the life of a man by killing the Zulu assailant. Although wounded himself, he continued to give the same display </div> <div> of cool courage throughout the action. He was 46 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> James Dalton was born in London in 1833. He enlisted in 85th Foot in November 1849 aged 17. He transferred </div> <div> to the Commissariat Corps in 1862 as a Corporal, and was promoted to Sergeant in the following year. Four years </div> <div> later, he became a clerk and a Master-Sergeant. He served with Sir Garnet Wolseley on the </div> <div> Red River Expedition (Canada) in 1870. </div> <bR> <div> He retired from the army, with a Long Service & Good Conduct medal in 1871 after 22 years service. By 1877, </div> <div> he was in South Africa and volunteered for service as Acting Assistant Commissary with the British Force. It was largely </div> <div> due to his experience, which made the defence of Rorke's Drift a success. At first his contribution was not recognised; </div> <div> however reports of his actions finally reached the ears of senior officers and even Queen Victoria. </div> <bR> <div> He received his VC from General Hugh Clifford VC at a special parade at Fort Napier on 16 January 1880. </div> <div> He returned to army service being given a permanent commission. He sailed for England in February 1880. </div> <div> He soon returned to South Africa and took part shares in a gold mine. It is thought that he went to stay with his </div> <div> old friend, ex-Sgt John Sherwood Williams, at the Grosvenor Hotel, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape just before </div> <div> Christmas 1886. After spending the 7th January 1887 in bed, he died suddenly during the night, aged 53.. </div> <div> (His VC is in the Royal Logistic Corps Museum, Blackdown, Camberley, Surrey).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="581" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 413 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14830950.jpg" border=0 width="304" height="405" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="14931970.jpg" border=0 width="305" height="407" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="reynolds"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="141" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 220 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0fa7ed60.jpg" border=0 width="126" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>James Henry Reynolds</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(Army Medical Department, later to be RAMC)</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Under heavy fire, he attended both the wounded and brought ammunition to the hospital defenders. </div> <div> He was 34 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> James Henry Reynolds was born in Dublin on February 3rd 1844. Educated at Castleknock School, Dublin, </div> <div> he obtained his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Trinity College, Dublin in 1867, before </div> <div> joining the Army Medical Department in March 1868. He served with the 36th Foot in India during 1869-1870 but </div> <div> was invalided home after a serious outbreak of cholera hit the regiment.</div> <bR> <div> He arrived in South Africa in August 1874 and later accompanied the 1/24th on the minor expedition to the </div> <div> Diamond Fields in 1875. He served alongside both the 1/24th and 88th Regiments during the Eastern Frontier </div> <div> Campaigns of 1877-1878, and was present at the action around Mpetu in January 1878. By the 22nd January 1879, </div> <div> he found himself in charge of the field hospital at Rorke's Drift, where he remained looking </div> <div> after the sick for some weeks afterwards. </div> <bR> <div> After the action, he was promoted to Surgeon-Major and was present in the British camp at Fort Nolela for the final </div> <div> battle at Ulundi in July 1879. He received the V.C. from Colonel R. T. Glyn, C.B., during a special parade of the </div> <div> 1/24th at Pinetown Camp, outside Durban on Tuesday 26th August 1879.Upon his return to Ireland he was </div> <div> appointed S.M.O. for the expedition to aid Captain Charles Boycott, during the so called Irish Land War of 1880.</div> <bR> <div> He retired from the army after 27 years’ service with the rank of Brigade Surgeon Lieutenant Colonel in 1896. </div> <div> He attended a special dinner to honour holders of the V.C. at the House of Lords in November 1929. He died, </div> <div> aged 88 years, at the Empire Nursing Home, London and is buried in St. Marys Roman Catholic Cemetery, </div> <div> Grave no 504 R/C Section. (His Victoria Cross, South African campaign medal and Gold medal of the British Medical </div> <div> Association are currently on loan to the Army Medical Services Museum, Keogh Barracks, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hampshire).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="263" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 416 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="0fbfa9a0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="410" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Taken in 1868</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="249" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 353 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="128eb5b0.jpg" border=0 width="235" height="347" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 170 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="11aeea40.jpg" border=0 width="238" height="164" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I><B> <A NAME="allen"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></I></div> <div> <I><B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="235" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 310 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="10ee0300.jpg" border=0 width="224" height="304" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="683" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 1157 WIDTH="677"><div> <B>Cpl. William Wilson Allen</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(1240 B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B></div> <bR> <div> Despite severe wounds, he and Hitch kept communication with the hospital open, enabling the patients to be withdrawn. When his own wounds had been dressed, he continued serving out ammunition to his comrades throughout the night. He was aged 35 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Said to have been born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but we now know he was born in a little village south of Berwick-on-Tweed in Northumberland. Enlisted at York in October 1859 aged 15 years.</div> <div> He was Assistant Schoolmaster as a Corporal in Brecon Barracks in 1876 when he married a local girl - Sarah Ann Reeves in August 1876; they had a family of seven children. Wounded in the left shoulder at Rorke's Drift. He received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 Decembe 1879.</div> <div>  </div> <div> Later he served as a Sergeant Instructor with the 3rd Militia Battalion in Brecon and the 4th Volunteer Battalion in Monmouth. Sgt Allen died still serving in Monmouth. A fund was set up to look after his widow and children. (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="291" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 381 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="0fe19760.jpg" border=0 width="281" height="374" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 218 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="11c19d30.jpg" border=0 width="281" height="211" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div>  <A NAME="hook"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="174" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 246 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="10fa2f00.jpg" border=0 width="162" height="240" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Pte. Henry (Harry) Hook</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(1373 B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> With John Williams, he held out for over an hour in a distant room of the hospital until their ammunition ran out. </div> <div> As the Zulus advanced, he and Williams burst through three more partition walls until they reached the safety </div> <div> of the inner defences, bringing eight patients with them. He was 28 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Born at Churcham in Gloucestershire in 1850. He first served in the Monmouth Militia and enlisted into the regular </div> <div> army at Monmouth in March 1877 aged 26. He received a scalp wound from a Zulu assagai at Rorke's Drift, which, </div> <div> in later years caused him some discomfort. He purchased his discharge from the regular army in June 1880, but later </div> <div> served 20 years in 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. </div> <bR> <div> After his discharge in 1880, he resided at Sydenham Hill and worked at the British Museum. He retired in </div> <div> 1904 and returned to live in Gloucestershire. Interestingly, there is some mystery about his first marriage. His wife </div> <div> thought he had been killed in South Africa and ran off with someone else. Hook married again in 1897 in Islington. </div> <div> He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 12th March 1905 at Osborne Villas, Roseberry Avenue, Gloucester and </div> <div> is buried at Churcham. He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley, GOC South Africa at Rorke's Drift on 3 August 1879. </div> <div> (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="307" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 401 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="100288b0.jpg" border=0 width="296" height="395" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 229 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="11e29df0.jpg" border=0 width="297" height="223" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="w_jones"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="212" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 273 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="101c80b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="267" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> Pte. William Jones </div> <div> (593 B Co. 24th. Regiment)<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" > </FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Defending the post hospital to the last, he and Robert Jones managed to remove six men to safety, </div> <div> the seventh being killed. He was 39 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Born in Evesham in 1839. He was attested at Birmingham in December 1858 aged 19 years. One of the founder </div> <div> members of the 2nd/24th. Served in Mauritius, Burma and India. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal. </div> <div> Discharged at Netley Hospital due to chronic rheumatism on 2nd February 1880. He was unable to find regular </div> <div> employment. He did some acting and also toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. After discharge he resided in </div> <div> Birmingham, but later moved to Rutland Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock in Lancashire. </div> <bR> <div>  </div> <div> In 1910, he was admitted to Bridge Street Workhouse in Manchester. He died in April 1913 and is buried </div> <div> in Philips Park Cemetery in Manchester. HM Queen Victoria awarded him his VC at Windsor Castle on 13th January 1880. </div> <div> He pawned his VC in later years. (His VC and campaign medal are in the SWB Museum Collection).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="241" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 352 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="102e55a0.jpg" border=0 width="229" height="346" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 81 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="120e44b0.jpg" border=0 width="228" height="75" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="j_williams"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="234" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 310 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="103dc300.jpg" border=0 width="220" height="304" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>John Williams (Fielding)</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(1393 B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Held one hospital room for an hour against heavy odds until his ammunition ran out, then with Hook broke through three </div> <div> patition walls to allow the evacuation of eight patients to the inner defence lines, holding the enemy back </div> <div> at bayonet point. He was 21 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Born in Merthyr Road, Abergavenny as John Fielding. He enlisted first in the Monmouthshire Militia in February 1877 </div> <div> but later that year joined the 2/24th. He received his VC from Major General Anderson at Gibraltar in March 1880. </div> <div> He served in India in 1880-1883 before transferring to the reserve. He later served as a sergeant in the </div> <div> 3rd Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers. </div> <bR> <div> In 1914, he volunteered for service and served on the SWB Depot staff at Brecon throughout the Great War. </div> <div> He married Elizabeth Murphy and had 3 sons and 2 daughters; one son was killed while serving with 1/SWB during the </div> <div> Retreat from Mons in 1914. He died in Cwmbran in 1932 and was the last surviving Rorke's Drift VC holder to die. </div> <div> (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >.</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="388" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 314 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="144cf340.jpg" border=0 width="207" height="308" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="143a5330.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="307" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="schiess"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="399" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 265 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="03881030.jpg" border=0 width="385" height="259" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Cpl. Ferdnand Christian Schiess</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(Natal Native Contingent)</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Despite suffering with problems to his feet, he displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the </div> <div> inner line when the Zulus were upon the mealie bags. He crept along the wall to dislodge them, killing three </div> <div> before returning to the inner defences. He was 22 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Schiess served in the French army before sailing from Hamburg to East London South Africa in 1877. </div> <div> He volunteered and served in the 9th Frontier War. Colonel Durnford appointed him a Corporal in the </div> <div> 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent. Because of his ill-fitting boots, he found himself in the hospital at </div> <div> Rorke's Drift on 22 January 1879. After much pressure, he was awarded the VC - the first to a soldier </div> <div> serving with South Africa forces. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at a special </div> <div> parade in Pietermaritzburg on 3 February 1880. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> After the disbandment of the volunteer forces, he failed to find work. In 1884, he was found on the streets of </div> <div> Cape Town suffering from exposure and malnutrition. The Royal Navy found him, gave him food, and offered him </div> <div> a passage to England, which he accepted, but he became ill during the voyage. He died on board ship on </div> <div> 14 December 1884 aged 28, and is buried at sea off the coast of Angola. </div> <div> His VC was with him when he died. It is now on display in the National Army Museum in London.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="261" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 337 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="105fa4b0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="331" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The Seraphis, aboard which Schiess died. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="303" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 285 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1108c180.jpg" border=0 width="140" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1118b160.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="278" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Cpl. Ferdnand Christian Schiess's</div> <div> Victoria Cross</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></FONT>                </div> <bR> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="r_jones"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="282" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 366 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="1080e680.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="360" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Pte. Robert Jones</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(716 B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> With William Jones, he defended one of the wards of the hospital until six of the seven patients had </div> <div> been removed. The seventh man was delirious, and all attempts to induce him to leave were in vain and he </div> <div> was stabbed to death by a Zulu. He was 21 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Born at Raglan, Monmouthshire in August 1857. He enlisted into 2/24th on 10 January 1876 aged 19. After Rorke's Drift </div> <div> he continued his service in India with 2nd Battalion. He transferred to the army reserve in 1882. He subsequently returned </div> <div> to farm labouring at Peterchurch in Herefordshire. There he married at local girl - Elizabeth Hopkins in </div> <div> 1885 and they had five children. </div> <bR> <div> In the summer of 1898, he complained of headaches. On 6 September that year, he was found dead with a shotgun </div> <div> wound. He received his VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at Utrecht on 11th September 1879. </div> <div> (His VC, along with many others is thought to be in the hands of the wealthy industrialist, Michael Ashcroft).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="276" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 356 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="109075e0.jpg" border=0 width="263" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 203 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="12508c50.jpg" border=0 width="264" height="197" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="10d346c0.png" border=0 width="52" height="108" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <bR> <div>  <A NAME="hitch"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="430" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 286 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="142cc180.jpg" border=0 width="204" height="280" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="141d3170.gif" border=0 width="211" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="627" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP COLSPAN=2 HEIGHT= 45 WIDTH="621"><div> <B>Pte. Frederick Hitch</B><B> </B></div> <div> <B>(1362 B Co. 24th. Regiment)</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> With Allen, he kept communications at the hospital open, despite wounds, allowing patients to be withdrawn. </div> <div> After his wounds were dressed, he worked through the night by dispensing ammunition to his comrades </div> <div> at the defences. He was 22 at the time of the defence.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="272" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 326 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="15004400.jpg" border=0 width="260" height="320" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> Fred Hitch posed for this painting</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Hitch was born at Chase Side, Southgate, London on 29th. November 1856. He enlisted in London on 7 March 1877 </div> <div> aged 20 years. Severely wounded at Rorke's Drift in the right shoulder by a roughly made Zulu bullet, which shattered </div> <div> the bone and permanently disabled him. On his return to the UK he was a patient at Netley Hospital and was finally </div> <div> discharged for the army with a pension in August 1879. </div> <bR> <div> He was employed a Commissionaire at the Imperial Institute, but later became a London Cab Driver. </div> <div> He died in January 1913 and is buried in Chiswick Cemetery. His funeral was attended by a large number </div> <div> of London 'Cabbies' and still today there is the Fred Hitch gallantry award for Cab drivers. </div> <bR> <div> He was married on 5th. July 1881 to Emily Matilda Meurisse. They had 10 children, two of whom died at an early age. </div> <div> His Victoria Cross was presented to him by HM The Queen at Netley Hospital on 12 August 1879. The Cross was </div> <div> stolen from his jacket while he was a Commissionaire and his son petitioned Lord Roberts for a replacement. </div> <div> (His replacement VC is in the SWB Museum Collection. To this day the original has never been found).</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="383" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 288 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="10c731a0.jpg" border=0 width="371" height="282" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 206 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="12774c80.jpg" border=0 width="372" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> More Information on the Life of Fred Hitch V.C.</div> <bR> <div> Early Life</div> <bR> <div> Frederick Hitch was born on November 29th 1856 at Chase Side in Southgate, then a hamlet in Middlesex, </div> <div> now a suburb of London. He was born into a typically large Victorian family. His father, John, a shoemaker, </div> <div> was originally from Hull, and his mother, Sarah nee Champness, was from Epping.</div> <bR> <div> Fred was the tenth of eleven children. An older sister, Susan, would die at the age of eighteen months, </div> <div> ten years before Fred was born.The only one younger than Fred was his brother Charles and there is evidence </div> <div> to suggest that Fred was closer to Charles than with any of the others.</div> <bR> <div> Joining the Army</div> <bR> <div> Fred did not follow into his fathers trade of shoemaker. With no education and no training, there were </div> <div> very few opportunities for employment.Fred did eventually find work as a bricklayer's labourer. It would have been </div> <div> Fred's task to mix the mortar compound and carry the bricks up to whatever level the bricklayer was working at.</div> <div> A menial job of this kind brought with it miserly wages. People like Fred were two-a-penny in the building industry </div> <div> and they were forced to accept whatever rate of pay they could.</div> <bR> <div> We do not know what crime led Fred to appear before the magistrates at Westminster Police Court on </div> <div> March 7th 1877. It may have been an opportunistic crime, it may have been one compounded by an empty belly. </div> <div> Alternatively it could have been one of many such enterprises and happened to be the only one he was caught at. </div> <div> The records of the court were destroyed during the Second World War and so far, no newspaper </div> <div> reports of the case have come to light.</div> <bR> <div> There are two reasons to believe that whatever crime Fred committed, it was not a serious one. Firstly, he was tried </div> <div> at a Police Court and not the Sessions House or a Crown Court; and secondly, when he applied to become a taxi driver </div> <div> the police would have performed a check to see if he had a criminal record. If there was any doubt that he was not a </div> <div> "fit and proper person", his cab licence would have been refused.</div> <bR> <div> Fred probably pleaded guilty to the offence with which he was charged, he may have been held in custody had he </div> <div> pleaded not guilty. His case, and the sentencing were done in a matter of hours. It was a matter of hours that was to </div> <div> change Fred's life. He was given the option of going to prison or joining the army.The Victorian penal system left a lot to be </div> <div> desired, and the army would not have been much fun either. It probably was an easy decision for Fred to make. </div> <div> At least now he would be clothed and fed.</div> <bR> <div> Army Life</div> <bR> <div> We get the first physical description of Fred when he joins the Army: he is 5'8'' tall, has brown hair, </div> <div> hazel eyes and a fresh complexion.We also have proof as to how illiterate Fred was, as he could not even sign his own </div> <div> name on his enlistment papers but instead made a X. Two days later 1362 private Frederick Hitch joined the 2nd Batallion </div> <div> of the 24th Regiment of Foot. He was stationed at Chatham but in January 1878 came news that they </div> <div> were being sent to South Africa.</div> <bR> <div> On February 2nd 1878 Fred, "twenty-four officers, eight staff-sergeants, thirty-nine sergeants, forty corporals, sixteen </div> <div> drummers and…" 745 other privates set sail on the Troopship Himalaya. They reached Simon's Bay on February 28th </div> <div> and remained there whilst they replenished their stocks. They set sail again on March 6th and landed at East London </div> <div> on the 9th. From their they were despatched on trains to King William's Town - known locally as "White Man's Grave".</div> <bR> <div> After several days march Fred and the rest of the 2/24th finally, on April 6th, located the troublesome Galekas and after </div> <div> a brief skirmish in the dense Petrie Bush the natives were beaten. Their were further battles on April 30th and again on </div> <div> May 9th. Their leader, Chief Sandili, escaped but his wounds were found to be fatal. Sandili's death saw an end </div> <div> to the Ninth, and last, Kaffir War.</div> <bR> <div> Throughout May and June the 2/24th were stationed at Mount Kempt and on June 19th a dutiful Fred sent home </div> <div> £2 to his mother - not a small sum of money considering that a private was lucky to see a penny a day from his </div> <div> shilling a day wages, once all the expenses had been taken into account.</div> <bR> <div> By this time the Zulu nation had reached its peak. No other African tribes could threaten it - only the red soldier. </div> <div> By imposing impossible restrictions and obligations on the Zulus, Britain soon managed to escalate a war against the </div> <div> Zulus for no other reason that because they were there - and "there" posed a potential threat to British interests.</div> <bR> <div> Civilian Life</div> <bR> <div> Yesterdays hero was soon to be tomorrows unemployed as on August 25th, a medical board ruled that Fred was unfit </div> <div> for further duty and he was discharged from the army. He gave his intended employment as a bricklayers labourer but </div> <div> a bricklayers labourer with a game arm was not much use to anybody and it is unlikely that Fred ever </div> <div> returned to the building sites.</div> <bR> <div> Although he would have received a £10 a year pension from the War Office for his Victoria Cross </div> <div> (increased to £50 in 1898), he received little else, there was in those days no invalidity pension. This was not a new </div> <div> problem but it was one that had been partially addressed by a Captain Waller, who founded an organisation consisting </div> <div> of loyal ex-servicemen who could be entrusted to stand guard at business premises. That organisation, which is still with </div> <div> us today, is the Corps Commissionaires and within five weeks of his discharge, Fred was a Commissionaire.</div> <bR> <div> Fred's life seemed to be improving, when compared to his pre-army life. In July 1881 he married Emily </div> <div> Meurisse. For some unknown Fred drifted in and out of employment with the Commissionaires, on his </div> <div> wedding certificate his occupation is listed as a labourer. By the time their first child, Frederick, was born Fred and </div> <div> Emily had moved out of Porchester Square and were now living in the family quarters of the Commissionaires at </div> <div> Exchange Court, just off the Strand.</div> <bR> <div> The next few years were to prove very disruptive to the Hitch household. Fred, still drifting in and out of the </div> <div> Commissionaires was at one time a railway porter and at other times just listed himself as an "Army Pensioner" or </div> <div> as a caretaker at the Imperial Institute in South Kensington.Despite the constant moving around and different employments, </div> <div> Fred was soon able to settle down not with one job but two as well as the added bonus of an income from a third source.</div> <bR> <div> Fred was still employed as a messenger at the Imperial Institute but he was no longer living there. Instead the Hitch </div> <div> household were living above a pub in Little Durweston Street, off Crawford Street. On October 7th 1893 Fred gained his </div> <div> licence to sell liquor there but on July 23rd the following year his licence was forfeited.</div> <bR> <div> When Winifred was born in October 1894 Little Durweston Street is still given as the household address but </div> <div> his employee is still the Imperial Institute.It is around this time that Fred may have become a Hackney Cab proprietor - </div> <div> the owner of a hackney coach. He was not qualified to drive it for a living but there was nothing to prevent him from purchasing </div> <div> a coach and horse, perhaps with his Victoria Cross pension, and renting it out to a licensed hackney cab driver.</div> <bR> <div> Whatever links Fred had with the pub in Little Durweston Street, his name still appeared above the door, as Lord Miles </div> <div> discovered before writing to The Times in March 1895:</div> <bR> <div> Sir,- In a mews connecting York-street and Crawford-street, in postal district W., there is a small public house known </div> <div> as the Durweston Arms. Over the window of this public house, as a signboard, is painted in large letters the name of the </div> <div> publican:- "F. HITCH, V.C."</div> <div> Have any of your readers ever met with a case in which this coveted and most honourable distinction has been used for the purposes </div> <div> of trade or business.</div> <bR> <div> Fred was not the first to notice the benefits of trade when linked to the Victoria Cross but such associations </div> <div> were frowned upon by the War Office and that painted sign, and the notice given it by Lord Miles, may have done </div> <div> much to hinder Fred's attempts to receive a replacement cross when his one was stolen.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="174" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#FF0000" BORDERCOLORDARK="#FF0000" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 161 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="10ba59b0.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The Memorial</div> <bR> <div> A fund was initiated for a decent memorial for Fred's grave by Chiswick Urban District Council. Members of </div> <div> the public were invited to send in donations and the proceeds from the screening of a film were also donated.</div> <div> The memorial was finally erected on Friday 19th June 1914 and was described by The Times as a "..block of granite </div> <div> some 7ft. in height. On the top is carved the Union Jack surmounted by a sun helmet, bearing the badge of Hitch's </div> <div> old regiment, while at one end are replicas in bronze of the Cross and a palm leaf.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Defenders of Rorkes Drift"><U><IMG SRC="0a08b2b0.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A>     <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Other Award Winners"><U><B><IMG SRC="09f8b2b0.jpg" border=0 width="139" height="43" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B> <embed src="HTMLobj-274/cross.wav" autostart="true" hidden="true">  </B></div> <div> <B> <meta http-equiv="Page-Enter" content="revealtrans(duration=2,transition=23)">  </B></div> </td> </tr></table></body>