Gerald Goodlake

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Gerald Goodlake and his horse in 1854. At the time, he held the rank of Colonel.

Gerald Littlehales Goodlake VC (14 May 1832 Faringdon - 5 April 1890 Denham) 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 the son of Thomas Goodlake of Wadley at Faringdon in Berkshire (now Oxfordshire) and his wife, Emilia Maria, the daughter of Sir Edward Baker, bart. of Radstone in Dorset. He was commissioned into the 21st Regiment of Foot on 14th June 1850. He exchanged (by purchase) into the Coldstream Guards on 27th June 1851. He served in the Crimea with the 1st Battalion, and also with the Sharpshooter which he commanded. He took part in the battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaclava and Sevastopol.

He was 22 years old, and a Brevet Major in the Coldstream Guards, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 28 October 1854 at Inkerman, Crimea, Major Goodlake was in command of a party of sharpshooters which held Windmill Ravine against a much larger force of the enemy, killing 38 (including an officer) and taking three prisoners. He also showed conspicuous gallantry on a later occasion when his sharpshooters surprised a picquet and seized the knapsacks and rifles of the enemy.

He later achieved the rank of Lieutenant General.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Guards Regimental Headquarters (Grenadier Guards RHQ) (London, England).