William Knox Leet

William Knox-Leet VC CB (Dalkey, County Dublin 3 November 1833 - 29 June 1898), was an Irish 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.

He was 45 years old, and a Major in the 1st Bn., 13th Regiment of Foot (later The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)), British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross: On 28 March 1879 at Battle of Hlobane, Zululand, South Africa, during the retreat, a lieutenant of the Frontier Light Horse whose horse had been shot under him, was on foot and being closely pursued by the Zulus. He would have been killed had not Major Leet taken him upon his horse and rode with him under fire of the enemy to a place of safety.

During the Third Burmese War (1885-87), then-Colonel Knox-Leet commanded the Infantry's 2nd Battlion, of which 144 men lost their lives in battle. Their names are listed on the Burma Memorial in Taunton, Somersetshire. This was the 2nd Battalion's first operation. Knox-Leet was eventually promoted to Major General.

He married Charlotte Elizabeth Anne Sherlock, a daughter of Thomas Henry Sherlock and Mary Catherine Kingston of Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland. They had two sons, Bertie Fielding Knox Leet and Dudley Knox Leet. William retired in July 1887, died in Great Chart, Kent, on 29 June 1898. A memorial to him is in Great Chart Churchyard.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Somerset Light Infantry Museum, located in Taunton, Somerset, England.

References

*The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
*The Irish Sword (Brian Clarke 1986)
*Irelands VCs ISBN 1-899243-00-3 (Dept of Economic Development 1995)
*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
* [http://www.theflyingscotsman.ca/sherlock_tree.pdf Sherlocks of Ireland]

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kent.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Kent)"
* [http://www.1879memorials.com/wb13/wknxlt13grv.html Memorial] to William Knox-Leet.