Herman Albrecht
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Herman Albrecht VC (1876 - 6 January 1900) 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.
[edit] Details
He was about 24 years old, and a Trooper in the Imperial Light Horse (Natal), South African Forces during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 6 January 1900 during the attack on Wagon Hill (Ladysmith), South Africa, a lieutenant (Robert James Thomas Digby-Jones) of the Royal Engineers and Trooper Albrecht led the force which re-occupied the top of the hill at a critical moment, just as the three foremost attacking Boers reached it. The leader was shot by the lieutenant and the two others by Trooper Albrecht.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg.
[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)
[edit] External links
- Photos of the battlefield at Wagon Hill
- Burial location of Herman Albrecht Natal, South Africa
- Location of Herman Albrecht's Victoria Cross South Africa Museum of Military History, Johannesburg
