Edmund John Phipps Hornby
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Edmund John Phipps Hornby (VC, CB, CMG) (born 31 December 1857 - died 13 December 1947) 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.
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[edit] Background
Phipps Hornby was born in Westbourne, West Sussex on 31 December 1857, the son of the Admiral of the Fleet, Geoffrey Thomas Phipps Hornby GCB.
[edit] Victoria Cross details
Phipps Hornby was 42 years old, and a major commanding 'Q' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, British Army, during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
On 31 March 1900 at Sanna's Post (aka Korn Spruit), South Africa, 'Q' and 'U' batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery were ambushed with the loss of most of the baggage column and five guns of the leading battery. When the alarm was given 'Q' Battery, commanded by Major Phipps Hornby, went into action 1150 yards from the spruit, until the order to retire was received, when the major commanded that the guns and their limbers be run back by hand to a safe place — a most exhausting operation over a considerable distance, but at last all but one of the guns and one limber had been moved to safety and the battery reformed.
[edit] Further information
Phipps Hornby served in the First World War, 1914 – 15, and later achieved the rank of Brigadier General. His grave and memorial are in St Andrew's Churchyard at Sonning in Berkshire.
The following men were also awarded the Victoria Cross in the same action: Lieutenant Francis Maxwell (VC, CSI, DSO & Bar), Sergeant Charles Parker (VC), Gunner Isaac Lodge (VC) and Driver Horace Glasock (VC).
[edit] The medal
Brigadier General Phipps Hornby's Victoria Cross and other medals are displayed at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, England.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
[edit] External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Berkshire)
- Organizational Homepage. Q Battery, Royal Artillery. Retrieved on [[23 February]], 2006.
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission. Special thanks to the United Kingdom Royal Army for the use of Brigadier General Phipps Hornby's photograph.
