- Herman Albrecht
Herman Albrecht VC (
1876 -6 January 1900 ) was aSouth African recipient of theVictoria Cross , the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Details
He was about 24 years old, and a
Trooper in theImperial Light Horse (Natal) ,South African Forces during theSouth 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 .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)External links
* [http://www.griquas.com/2006/9.htm Photos of the battlefield at Wagon Hill]
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ggsafric.htm Burial location of Herman Albrecht] "Natal, South Africa"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ddsafric.htm Location of Herman Albrecht's Victoria Cross] "South Africa Museum of Military History, Johannesburg"
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