Gustavus Hamilton Blenkinsopp Coulson

Gustavus Hamilton Blenkinsopp Coulson VC DSO (April 1, 1879 - May 18, 1901) was an English 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.

Details

He was 22 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 18 May 1901 at Lambrechtfontein, South Africa, during a rearguard action in which Lieutenant Coulson rallied his men and saved the guns, a corporal who was the lieutenant's servant, had his horse shot. Lieutenant Coulson, seeing this, dismounted and took the man up on his own horse, but after a short distance the horse was wounded and both riders were brought to the ground. Lieutenant Coulson then told the corporal to get along with the wounded horse as best he could, while he, the lieutenant, would look after himself. He was, however, mortally wounded almost at once.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Regimental Museum of The Kings Own Scottish Borderers "(Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, England)".

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)