Walter Norris Congreve
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General Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC, KCB, MVO, (November 20, 1862 - February 26, 1927) 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.
He was 37 years old, and a captain in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), British Army during the South African War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
[edit] Action
On 15 December 1899 at the Battle of Colenso, South Africa, Captain Congreve with several others, tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga about 500 yards behind the guns and the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, with two other officers (Frederick Hugh Sherston (The Hon.) Roberts, Harry Norton Schofield) helped to hook a team into a limber and then to limber up a gun. Although wounded himself, seeing one of the officers fall, he went out with an RAMC Major (William Babtie) and brought him in.
Later Sir Walter. Father of Major William La Touche Congreve, VC. He later achieved the rank of general.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets Museum (Winchester, 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)
