List of Zulu War Victoria Cross recipients

The Victoria Cross (VC) was awarded to 27 members of the British Armed Forces for action during the Zulu War of 1879. The Victoria Cross is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of some Commonwealth countries and previous British Empire territories. The VC was introduced in Great Britain on 29 January 1856 by Queen Victoria to reward acts of valour during the Crimean War, and takes precedence over all other orders, decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service and to civilians under military command. The first ceremony was held on 26 June 1857, when Queen Victoria invested 62 of the 111 Crimean recipients in Hyde Park. [Ashcroft, Michael; preface; XI–XIII]

The Zulu War (also known as the Anglo-Zulu War) was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Empire. The war saw the end of the Zulu nation's independence and its colonisation by the British. After initially entering Zululand (part of modern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) unopposed, the centre column of men under the command of Henry Pulleine were encamped at Isandlwana. Zulu troops launched an attack that roundly defeated the British, killing more than 1,200 European soldiers on 22 January 1879. After the victory at the Battle of Isandlwana, the Zulu troops moved onto the small garrison of Rorke's Drift. This action involved 139 British soldiers in defence of their garrison against an assault by 4,000 Zulu warriors; the action was later made famous by the film "Zulu". The defence of Rorke's Drift is considered by historians as a "masterly defensive action" and an example of British heroism. [Arthur Max; p.119; "In a masterly defensive action, 139 men..."] Eleven recipients received their awards for actions during the defence of the small garrison—the largest number of VCs awarded for a single action. After the severe losses at Isandlwana, Charles Pearson's depleted column was besieged at Eshowe for three months. He was eventually relieved by a force under the personal command of General the Lord Chelmsford (the commander-in-chief of British forces in South Africa), which broke through the cordon three months later, on 2 April 1879. The British forces regrouped and defeated the Zulu soldiers at the Battle of Ulundi. [Arthur, Max; pp.119–120]

Under the original Royal Warrant, the VC could not be awarded posthumously. Between 1897 and 1901, several notices were issued in the "London Gazette" regarding soldiers who would have been awarded the VC had they survived. In a partial reversal of policy in 1902, six of the soldiers mentioned were granted the VC, but not "officially" awarded the medal. In 1907, the posthumous policy was completely reversed and medals were sent to the next of kin of the six officers and men; Nevill Coghill and Teignmouth Melvill were two of the soldiers who were decorated thus. [LondonGazette |issue=27986 |date=15 January 1907 |startpage=325 |endpage= |supp= |accessmonthday=28 August |accessyear=2008] The Victoria Cross warrant was not officially amended to include posthumous awards until 1920 but one quarter of all awards for the First World War were posthumous. [Crook, MJ, Chapter 8 pp.68–90] [LondonGazette |issue=31946|date=18 June 1920|startpage=6702|endpage= |supp= |accessmonthday=19 September|accessyear=2008]

Recipients

*legend2|#e3d9ff|This along with the *, indicates a posthumous award|border=1px solid #AAAAAA

References

;General
*cite book |last=Arthur |first=Max |authorlink=Max Arthur |title=Symbol of Courage; Men behind the Medal |publisher=Pan books |date=2005 |pages= pp.119–131 |isbn=978 0 330 49133 4
*cite book |last = Ashcroft |first = Michael |authorlink = Michael Ashcroft |title = Victoria Cross Heroes |publisher = Headline Book Publishing |date = 2006 |doi = |isbn =0755316320
*cite book |last=Crook |first=M.J. |authorlink= |title=The Evolution of the Victoria Cross |publisher=Midas books |date=1975 |doi= |isbn=0 85936 041 5
*LondonGazette|issue=24717|startpage=3177|endpage=3178|date=2 May 1879 |accessmonthday=28 August |accessyear=2008
*cite web |url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/victoriacross.asp |title=Victoria Cross Registers |publisher=The National Archives |accessdate=2008-04-11;Specific