Private Samuel Wassall, VC

Just visited the Staffordshire Regiment Museum at Whittington yesterday with my 6 year old son. He loves the films zulu and zulu dawn (like all young boys do!). He was interested to see an actual VC of Private Wassall. He did ask to watch ZD again to see if could recognise him!!!

Engineer
Welcome to the forum. This may be of interest to your son.
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Regards

Great to read and put a face to a great tale. How brave he must of been. Did your grandfather hear the stories on the uk or sa?

Engineer
In the UK, Barrow In Furness is the Ancestoral home. Still have a very large family there.

Cheers

Putting RD aside, was there any VC awarded for not saving another person life? During the Zulu War!

Interesting, of the cuff I would probably say no. But let me check.

cheers

William Allan[5] 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
William Beresford 9th Lancers 3 July 1879 White Umfolozi River (near Ulundi), Zululand
Anthony Booth 80th Regiment of Foot 12 March 1879 Battle of Intombe, Transvaal
Gonville Bromhead 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Edward Browne 24th Regiment of Foot 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Redvers Buller 60th Rifles 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
John Chard Royal Engineers 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Nevill Coghill 24th Regiment of Foot 22 January 1879* Battle of Isandlwana, Zululand
Henry D'Arcy Frontier Light Horse 3 July 1879 White Umfolozi River (near Ulundi), Zululand
James Dalton Commissariat and Transport Department 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Edmund Fowler 90th Regiment of Foot 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Frederick Hitch 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Alfred Hook 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Robert Jones 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
William Jones 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
William Leet 13th Regiment of Foot 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Henry Lysons 90th Regiment of Foot 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Teignmouth Melvill 24th Regiment of Foot 22 January 1879* Battle of Isandlwana, Zululand
Edmund O'Toole Frontier Light Horse 3 July 1879 White Umfolozi River (near Ulundi), Zululand
James Reynolds Army Medical Department 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Christian Schiess 3rd Natal Native Contingent 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony
Samuel Wassall 80th Regiment of Foot 22 January 1879 Battle of Isandlwana, Zululand
John Williams 24th Regiment of Foot 22–23 January 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift, Natal Colony

Set RD apart. I'm after the other VC winners and what they done to merit the VC. As far as I can see, they were all awarded for saving another's life.

That's the whole list of winners, Booth is possibly the only one that fits your bill. But even then its debatable

impi i'm with you on this one,
off the top of my head, Buller,
Beresford, Knox-Leet.

I suppose Booth, won his based on his action after the officer left them.

Knox-Leet only received his because he had friends in high places, did he not write a letter requesting a VC

yep that's right, but lobbying was quite
acceptable and nothing out of the
ordinary, whats your main question?
i sense you have a point to make, will
you share it? something we can get our
teeth into..

Wassall was 22 years old, and a private in the 80th Regiment of Foot (later The South Staffordshire Regiment), British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War when the following deed took place on 22 January 1879 at the Battle of Isandlwana, Zululand, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:
For his gallant conduct in having, at the imminent risk of his own life, saved that of Private Westwood, of the same regiment. On the 22nd January, 1879, when the Camp at Isandhlwana was taken by the enemy, Private Wassail retreated towards the Buffalo River, in which he saw a comrade struggling, and apparently drowning. He rode to the bank, dismounted, leaving his horse on the Zulu side, rescued the man from the stream, and again mounted his horse, dragging Private Westwood across the river under a heavy shower of bullets.

Brigadier General Edward Stevenson Browne VC CB (23 December 1852 – 16 July 1907) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was 26 years old, and a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place on 29 March 1879 at the battle of Hlobane, South Africa for which he was awarded the VC:
For his gallant conduct, on the 29th March, 1879, when the Mounted Infantry were being driven in by the enemy at Inhlobana, in galloping back and twice assisting on his horse (under heavy fire and within a few yards of the enemy) one of the mounted men, who must otherwise have fallen into the enemy's hands.

General Sir Redvers Henry Buller VC GCB GCMG.
For his gallant conduct at the retreat at Inhlobana, on the 28th March, 1879, in having assisted, whilst hotly pursued by Zulus, in rescuing Captain C. D'Arcy, of the Frontier Light Horse, who was retiring on foot, and carrying him on his horse until he overtook the rear guard. Also for having on the same date and under the same circumstances, conveyed Lieutenant C. Everitt, of the Frontier Light Horse, whose horse had been killed under him, to a place of safely. Later on, Colonel Buller, in the same manner, saved a trooper of the Frontier Light Horse, whose horse was completely exhausted, and who otherwise would have been killed by the Zulus, who were within 80 yards of him.

Melville & Coghill
On 22 January 1879, after the disaster of the Battle of Isandhlwana, South Africa, Lieutenant Coghill joined another officer (Teignmouth Melvill)  who was trying to save the Queen's Colour of the Regiment. They were pursued by Zulu warriors, and while crossing the swollen River Buffalo, Lieutenant Coghill went to the rescue of his brother officer, who had lost his horse and was in great danger. The two men were eventually overtaken by the enemy and, following a short but gallant struggle, both were killed.
Coghill and Melvill were amongst the first soldiers to receive the VC posthumously in 1907. Initially the London Gazette mentioned that had they survived they would have been awarded the VC.

D'Arcy, known as Cecil, was 28 years old, and a captain in the Frontier Light Horse, South African Forces during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 3rd July 1879 at Ulundi, South Africa, during a reconnaissance, Captain D'Arcy went to the rescue of Trooper Raubenheim of the Frontier Light Horse who had fallen from his horse as the troops were retiring. The captain waited for the man to mount behind him although the enemy were quite close, but the horse kicked them both off. Captain D'Arcy was hurt by the fall, and quite alone, but he still tried to lift the trooper, who was stunned, on to the horse, and only mounted and rode off when he was completely exhausted.

Edmond Fowler.
He was around 18 years old, and a Private in the 2nd Battalion, 90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers), British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 March 1879 at the Battle of Hlobane, South Africa, Private Fowler, with a captain and a lieutenant (Henry Lysons) dashed forward in advance of the party which had been ordered to dislodge the enemy from a commanding position in natural caves up the mountain. The path was so narrow that they had to advance in single file and the captain who arrived first at the mouth of the cave was instantly killed. The lieutenant and Private Fowler undismayed by the death of their leader, immediately sprang forward and cleared the enemy out of their stronghold.

William Knox-Leet VC CB (Dalkey, County Dublin 3 November 1833 – 29 June 1898), was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Leet was 45 years old, and a Major in the 1st Bn., 13th Regiment of Foot (later The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)), British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War when the following deed took place on 28 March 1879 at Battle of Hlobane, Zululand, South Africa for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross:
For his gallant conduct, on the 28th March, 1879, in rescuing from the Zulus Lieutenant A. M. Smith, of the Frontier Light Horse, during the retreat from the Inhlobana.
Lieutenant Smith whilst on foot, his horse having been shot, was closely pursued by the Zulus, and would have been killed had not Major Leet taken him upon his horse and rode with him, under the fire of the enemy, to a place of safety.

Lysons was 20 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, 90th Regiment of Foot, British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 28 March 1879 at the Hlobane Mountain, South Africa, Lieutenant Lysons, with a captain and a private (Edmund John Fowler) dashed forward in advance of the party which had been ordered to dislodge the enemy from a commanding position in natural caves up the mountain. The path was so narrow that they had to advance in single file and the captain who arrived first at the mouth of the cave was instantly killed. Lieutenant Lysons and the private, undeterred by the death of their leader, immediately sprang forward and cleared the enemy out of their stronghold.

Edmond Joseph O'Toole VC.
He was a Sergeant in the Frontier Light Horse, British Colonial forces during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, South Africa, during the retirement of a reconnoitering party, a captain (Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford) of the 9th Lancers went to the assistance of Sergeant Fitzmaurice of the 24th Regiment whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming up quickly in great numbers, but the officer, with help from Sergeant O'Toole, managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that the sergeant, who had been keeping back the enemy, gave up his carbine and rode alongside to hold him on. They all finally reached safety.
Beresford's VC was gazetted on 23 August 1879, it is reported that when he collected his medal from the Queen he told her that "he could not in honour receive the recognition of his services unless it were shared in by Sergeant O’Toole".  O'Toole was then gazetted on 10 October 1879.
Her Majesty pinning it on to the hero's breast, but not before he had explained to his Queen he could not in honour receive recognition of any services he had been able to perform, unless Sergeant O'Toole's services were also recognised, as he deserved infinitely greater credit than any that might attach to himself. The Queen, appreciating this generosity and soldierly honesty, bestowed the reward also on Sergeant Edmund OToole of Baker's Horse, and Lord William was satisfied. 

Anthony Booth.
On 12 March 1879 on the Intombe River, South Africa (Zulu War), during an attack by very large numbers of the enemy, Colour-Sergeant Booth rallied a few men on the south bank of the river and covered the retreat of 50 soldiers and others for a distance of three miles. Had it not been for the coolness displayed by this NCO not one man would have escaped. He later achieved the rank of Colour Sergeant.

yes littlehand quite right..now let me
in..what are we discussing here? i
sense a sub text that i'm missing!.

Thanks LH.

Les no agenda. Just wanted to know, Howmany were awarded VCs through not saving another person life. It's seems there are afew!

Edmund Fowler is probably the best example.

And "Lysons"

cheers impi, got it! so who's the odd
one's out then?..

Why does there have to be odd ones out?

We have 7 who received VCs for saving others lives. Ie going back for them! The others awarded KIA.

M & C debatable?

Impi
Melvill's VC was awarded for attempting to save the Colours , so there is another not awarded for saving a life . I dont understand your post in regards to the 7 saving lives , the others KIA , please explain ?????? . I realise you arent talking of the 11 VC'S awarded at RD .

90th got it! by odd ones out, i was referring to
Wassall, M and C..but only because of the
different circumstances surrounding their
actions.

90th wrote:

Impi
Melvill's VC was awarded for attempting to save the Colours , so there is another not awarded for saving a life . I dont understand your post in regards to the 7 saving lives , the others KIA , please explain ?????? . I realise you arent talking of the 11 VC'S awarded at RD .

Ouch!, are you saying, that Coghill, didn't attempt to save the life of a brother officer.
We could say Melville received a VC for not saving anothers life? Look at the list posted by LH. And count Howmany didn't save the lives of others, and we're awarded the VC. They were KIA?

Impi I'm not talking about COGHILL , you asked who was awarded the VC for not saving a life ! . Melvill didnt save a life , he was saving the Colours , he was awarded the VC , isnt that what you asked ? . You are really in a bit of a bind , what business are you in ??? Geeesh !. LOL . You still havent answered my quesetion ( which you are excellent at doing I may add ! ) , was the education pearler one of yours ? LOl again ! . I did seem to detect a hint of sarcasm regarding JW in your non answer .

  lol

I think you mean ' your ' . Yes , it takes all sorts as I've seen by your previous posts ! , cant say this is a boring place can we ?

90th wrote:

I think you mean  ' your ' . Yes , it takes all sorts as I've seen by your previous posts ! , cant say this is a boring place can we ?