James Pitts
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James Pitts (VC, MSM) (February 26, 1877 - February 28, 1955) 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.
[edit] Details
He was 22 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 January 1900 during an attack on Caesar's Camp, Natal, South Africa, 16 men of 'D' Company were defending one of the slopes of the hill. The defenders were under heavy fire all day, the majority being killed and their positions occupied by the enemy. At last only Private Pitts and one other man (Robert Scott) remained. They held their post for 15 hours without food or water, all the time exchanging deadly fire with the enemy, until relief troops had retaken the lost ground and pushed the enemy off the hill.
He later achieved the rank of Corporal.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Manchesters (Ashton-under-Lyne, England).
[edit] References
- The Four Blackburn VC's (HL Kirby and RR Walsh)
- 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)
