| William John English | |
|---|---|
| Born | 6 October 1882 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 4 July 1941 (aged 58) At sea, near Egypt |
| Buried at | Maala Cemetery, Aden |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1899 - 1941 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Unit | The Scottish Horse Royal Army Service Corps Royal Ulster Rifles |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I World War II |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Mérite agricole (French) (4th Class) |
William John English VC (6 October 1882 – 4 July 1941) 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.
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He was 18 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd The Scottish Horse during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place on 3 July 1901 at Vlakfontein, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:
This Officer with five men was holding the right of a position at Vlakfontein on the 3rd July, 1901, during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to Lieutenant English's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do this he had to cross some 15 yards of open ground under a heavy fire at a range of from 20 to 30 yards.[1]
English received the Victoria Cross in person from King Edward VII in July 1902.
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He saw action in three major wars (Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage, on board a ship near Egypt, on active service with the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1941. He is buried in Maala Cemetery, Aden (now Yemen).[2]
His medal group (including the VC) was bequeathed to his former school, Campbell College, Belfast. His medals included the Queen's South Africa Medal and 5 Bars (Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902), 1914 Star with Ribbon Bar (5 August to 22 November 1914), British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, 1939-45 War Medal, King Edward VII Coronation 1902 Medal, King George VI Coronation 1937 Medal.
The medal group has been lent by their owners, Campbell College, for a 10 year period, from 2010, to the Imperial War Museum, London as part of their Victoria Cross and George Cross Collection.
Listed in order of publication year