John Hutton Bisdee

Infobox Military Person
name=John Hutton Bisdee
lived=28 September 1869 – Death date and age|1930|01|14|1869|9|28|df=yes


caption=
nickname=
placeofbirth=Melton Mowbray, Tasmania
placeofdeath=Jericho, Tasmania
religion=
spouse=
allegiance=British Empire (Tasmania); Australia
branch=Tasmanian Colonial Forces;
First Australian Imperial Force
serviceyears=1899 - 1918
rank=Lieutenant Colonel
unit=
commands=
battles= Second Boer War
World War I
awards=Victoria Cross
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Mentioned in Despatches
relations=
laterwork=

John Hutton Bisdee VC, OBE (28 September, 1869 - 14 January, 1930) was an Australian 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.

Early life

John Hutton Bisdee was born on 28 September 1869 at Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania.

Military service

When Bisdee was 30 years old, and a Trooper in the Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen, Australian Imperial Force during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 September 1900 near Warm Baths, Transvaal, South Africa, Trooper Bisdee was one of an advance scouting party passing through a narrow gorge, when the enemy suddenly opened fire at close range and six out of the party of eight were wounded, including two officers. The horse of one of the wounded officers bolted and Trooper Bisdee dismounted, put him on his own horse and took him out of range of the very heavy fire.

Bisdee served later served as a Lieutenant Colonel in World War I (1914-1918), where he was awarded an Officer Of The Order Of The British Empire, as well as being Mentioned in Despatches.

Later life

He died on 14 January 1930 and was buried in the St James Churchyard, Jericho, Tasmania. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.

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)