Lord William Beresford

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Photo submitted by John Young
Photo submitted by John Young

Lieutenant-Colonel Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford VC KCIE (20 July 1847 - 30 December 1900) born Mullaghbrack, County Armagh, Ireland was an Irish 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.

The son of John de La Poer Beresford, 4th Marquess of Waterford, Beresford was 31 years old, and a captain in the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, South Africa, during the retirement of a reconnoitring party, Captain Lord William Beresford went to the assistance of an Non-commissioned officer (NOC) of the 24th Regiment, whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming in great numbers, but Lord William, with help from a sergeant (Edmund O'Toole) of the Frontier Light Horse, managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that the sergeant, who had been keeping back the advancing Zulus, gave up his carbine and, riding alongside, helped to hold him on until they reached safety.

He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel and died at Deepdene, Dorking, Surrey 30 December 1900.

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