John Frederick McCrea
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John Frederick McCrea (2 April 1854- 16 July 1894) 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 26 years old, and a Surgeon in the 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry, South African Forces during the First Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 14 January 1881, at Tweefontein, Basutoland, South Africa, the burghers had been forced to retire under a most determined enemy attack, with a loss of 16 killed and 21 wounded. Surgeon McCrea was the only doctor present and notwithstanding a serious wound on the breast bone, which he dressed himself, he most gallantly took the casualties into shelter and continued to attend to the wounded throughout the day. Had it not been for this devotion to duty on the part of Surgeon McCrea, there would undoubtedly have been much greater suffering and loss of life.
He later achieved the rank of Surgeon Major.
The VC which was displayed in Kokstad (Natal) in South Africa was stolen during a "Break In" a few years back.
