D'Arcy, Frontier Light Horse

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 3 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. He later insisted that Edmund O'Toole should also receive an award for his assistance.

He was born in Wanganui, New Zealand, where his father Major Oliver D’Arcy of the 65th Regiment was in the British garrison there (in 1860 Oliver transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles and settled at King William's Town, Eastern Cape Colony).

Henry later joined the Cape Mounted Rifles as a captain, and served in the 1880 Basuto rising, but resigned in April 1881. He left the house of Rev. Taberer in the Cape Province where he was staying to recuperate during the night of 6-7 August 1881, and his remains were found next year (though there were rumours that he had subsequently been seen elsewhere).

"He is also considered South African, though he probably considered himself British or Anglo-Irish. The Independent newspaper in London reported that the Captain famously faked his own death. "No longer is anyone likely to imitate Captain Henry Cecil Dudgeon D'Arcy of the Frontier Light Horse, who, having been awarded the VC in the Zulu wars, turned to drink. Later, a body wearing his clothes was found in a cave and, this being the pathology of a century ago, presumed to be his. Only many decades later was it learnt that D'Arcy had found a dead man lying in the snow, changed clothes with him, and gone to Natal, and lived out the rest of his life under an assumed name. He was once recognised in 1925, but swore his discoverer to the secret, which the man kept until D'Arcy died. "

His story is told in the (out of print) book "What Happened to a V.C." by Patricia D'Arcy.
He is interred in the King William's Town, Eastern Cape cemetery.

Captain Henry Cecil Dudgeon D'Arcy (born at Wanganui on 11 August 1850), is the first New Zealand born recipient to be awarded the Victoria Cross, at the time he was serving in a Light Horse Troop which was part of the South African Forces. He died in the Arnatola Forest, South Africa in 1881, and lies buried in King William's Town Cemetery. Grave Memorial # 8543488.


CITATION:

"On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, South Africa, during a reconnaissance,Captain D'Arcy went to the rescue of a trooper of the Frontier Light Horse who had fallen from his horse as the troops were retiring. The captain waited for the trooper 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. (Gazetted: 9 October 1879).

His father, Major Oliver D’Arcy of the 65th Regiment, was posted to the Wanganui Garrison at the time of his birth. In 1860, at the age of 10, Cecil D'Arcy and his family moved to East Cape Colony, South Africa as his father had been posted there. Cecil D'Arcy enlisted into the Frontier Light Horse (South African Forces) and served as a Captain during the Zulu Wars. He was aged 28 at the time of his award of the Victoria Cross.

He died in October 1881, the actual date is not known, but between 8 August & 28 December in the Arnatola Forest.

NOTE: Captain D'Arcy later insisted that Sergeant Edmund O'Toole should also receive an award for his assistance. Sergeant O'Toole (later Captain), became the first native born South African, serving in a South African Unit to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

is the location of the ambush, where cecil d'arcy tried to rescue trooper raubenheim known?
i.e. photos or sketches?

I think that is something Ken Gillings can answer. Might be worth dropping him a PM.

Hi Ciroferrara.
This from ' Brave Mens Blood ' by Ian Knight .
It was decided to camp on the banks of the Mfolozi River , in a bend in the river overlooking the Drift .
Goes on to say '' Chelmesford ordered Buller to make a foray with a force of mtd men with the joint purpose of clearing the snipers from the bluffs and locating a spot on the Mahlabathini Plain for the coming fight . They crossed the river in two sections ; One party under Cmdt Baker , crossing at the drift opposite the bluff; The
other , led by Buller , crossing further down the stream '' ( Raubenheim was with Buller ) '' As the Patrol moved
towards the Mbilane stream , which seperated them from Ulundi, about 4,000 zulus suddenly rose out of the grass in front of them , and loosed of a volley at only 70 yds. Hope this helps
cheers 90th.

"Details

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 3 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.[1]

Further information

He was born in Wanganui, New Zealand, where his father Major Oliver D’Arcy of the 65th Regiment was in the British garrison there (in 1860 Oliver transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles and settled at King William's Town, Eastern Cape Colony).

Henry later joined the Cape Mounted Rifles as a captain, and served in the 1880 Basuto rising, but resigned in April 1881. He left the house of Rev. Taberer in the Cape Province where he was staying to recuperate during the night of 6–7 August 1881, and his remains were found next year[2] (though there were rumours that he had subsequently been seen elsewhere).

He is also considered South African, though he probably considered himself British or Anglo-Irish. The Independent newspaper in London reported that the Captain famously faked his own death. "No longer is anyone likely to imitate Captain Henry Cecil Dudgeon D'Arcy of the Frontier Light Horse, who, having been awarded the VC in the Zulu wars, turned to drink. Later, a body wearing his clothes was found in a cave and, this being the pathology of a century ago, presumed to be his. Only many decades later was it learnt that D'Arcy had found a dead man lying in the snow, changed clothes with him, and gone to Natal, and lived out the rest of his life under an assumed name. He was once recognised in 1925, but swore his discoverer to the secret, which the man kept until D'Arcy died. "

His story is told in the (out of print) book "What Happened to a V.C." by Patricia D'Arcy.

He is interred in the King William's Town, Eastern Cape cemetery"

Source:hawaiilibrary