Christian Ferdinand Schiess

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Christian Ferdinand Schiess (7 April 1856 - 14 December 1884) was a Swiss 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.

1 Details
2 Further information
3 The medal
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Details

He was 22 years old, and a corporal in the Natal Native Contingent, South African Forces during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. In fact, he called himself Friedrich Schiess and he passed himself off as a citizen of South Africa.

On 22 January 1879 at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, Corporal Schiess, in spite of having been wounded in the foot a few days previously, displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line of defence and the Zulus had occupied the wall of mealie bags which had been abandoned. He crept along the wall in order to dislodge one of the enemy and succeeded in killing him and two others before returning to the inner defences.

[edit] Further information

First man serving with South African Forces under British Command to receive the VC. Schiess died in 1884 whilst aboard ship off the coast of Angola. His remains were buried at sea.