Francis Newton Parsons

Francis Newton Parsons VC (23 March, 1875 Dover —10 March, 1900) was educated at Dover College, joined the Essex Regiment and served in the Second Boer War. He became a 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.

Military career

After his initial education at Dover College, he proceeded to Royal Military College Sandhurst, and on graduation was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Essex Regiment on 28 February 1896. [LondonGazette|issue=26716|startpage=1206|date=28 February 1896|accessdate=2008-09-26] He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 March 1898. [LondonGazette|issue=26953|startpage=2091|date=1 April 1898|accessdate=2008-09-26]

He was 24 years old, and in the 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. The citation was published in the London Gazette of 20 November 1900: [LondonGazette|issue=27248|startpage=7136|date=20 November 1900|accessdate=2007-11-27]

quote|THE Queen has been graciously pleased to award the decoration of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for his conspicuous bravery during the engagement at Paardeberg, as stated against his name : —

[...]

Essex Regiment, Lieutenant Francis Newton Parsons (since deceased)

On the morning of the 15th February, 1900, at Paardeberg, on the south bank of the River Modder, Private Ferguson, 1st Battalion Essex Regiment, was wounded and fell in a place devoid of cover. While trying to crawl under cover, he was again wounded, in the stomach, Lieutenant Parsons at once went to his assistance, dressed his wound under heavy fire, went down twice (still under heavy fire) to the bank of the river to get water for Private Ferguson, and subsequently carried him to a place of safety.

This Officer was recommended for the Victoria Cross by Lieutenant-General Kelly-Kenny, C.B.. on 3rd March latt.

Lieutenant Parsons was killed on the 10th March, in the engagement at Dreifontein, on which occasion he again displayed conspicuous gallantry.

Parsons also received a posthumous Mention in Despatches on 8 February 1901. [LondonGazette|issue=27282|startpage=849|date=8 February 1901|accessdate=2008-09-26]

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Essex Regiment Museum "(Chelmsford, Essex, 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)

External links

* [http://www.dovercollege.org.uk Dover College]