Harry Frederick Whitchurch
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Harry Frederick Whitchurch VC (September 22, 1866-August 16, 1907) 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.
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He was 28 years old, and a Surgeon Captain in the Indian Medical Service, Indian Army during the North West Frontier, India when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 3 March 1895 at Chitral Fort, North-west Frontier, India, Surgeon-Captain Whitchurch went to the assistance of a captain who had been mortally wounded 1.5 miles from the fort. The captain was placed in a dhooly, but on the return journey three of the bearers were killed and a fourth severely wounded, so the Surgeon-Captain took the injured man on his back and carried him for some distance. The rescue party was fired on incessantly the whole way, but Surgeon-Captain Whitchurch eventually succeeded in getting them back to the fort, although nearly all were wounded.
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He later achieved the rank of Surgeon Major.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
Harry Whitchurch's VC is with his descendant Harry Simpson, Kent River Western Australia
