Edmund O'Toole
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Edmund O'Toole (?? -c1891) was a South African 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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He was a Sergeant in the Cape 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, Zululand, South Africa, during the retirement of a reconnoitring party, a captain (Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford) of the 9th Lancers went to the assistance of an NCO 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.
First South African-born man serving with a South African unit under British Command to win the VC. He later achieved the rank of Captain.
