THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Kumara Times, Issue 927, 19 September 1879, Page 4

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

The London Gazette says the Queen has Bignified her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the under-mentioned officers and soldiers for their gallant conduct during the recent operations in South Africa : Captain and Brevet Lieu-Colonel Rpd■vers H. Buller, C. 8., 60th Rifles, for his gallant, conduct at the retreat, at Inhlo, bana, on the 28th March, 1870, in having assisted, whilst hotly pursued by Zulus, in rescuing Captain C. D'Arcy, of the Frontier Light Horse, who was retiring on foot, and carrying him on his horse until he overtook the rearguard. Also, for having on the same date, and under the same circumstances, conveyed Lieut. C. Everitt, of the Frontier Light Horse, whose horse had been killed under him, to a place of safety. Later on, Colonel Buller, in the same manner, saved a trooper of the Light Horse, whose horse was completely exhausted, and who otherwise would have been killed by the Zulus, who were within 80 yards of him. Major William "K. Leet, Ist battalion 13th Regiment, for gallant conduct on the 28th March, 1878, in rescuing from the Zulus Lieut. A. M. Smith, of the Frontier Light Horse, during the retreat from the Inhlobana. Lieut. Smith whilst on foot, his horse having been shot, was closely pursued by the Zulus, and would have been killed had not Major Leet taken him upon his horse and rode with him, under the fire of the. enemy, to a place of Bafety. Snrgeon-major James Henry Reynolds Army Medical Department, for the conspicuous bravery, during the attack at Roke's Drift on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879, which he exhibited in his constant attention to the wounded under fire, and in his voluntarily conveying ammunition from the store to the defenders of the hospital, whereby he exposed himself to a cross-fire from the enemy, both going and returning. Lieutenant Edward S. Browne, Ist Battalion 24th Regiment, for his gallant conduct, on the 29th March, 1879, when the mounted infantry were bieng driven in by the enemy at Inhlobana, in galloping back and twice assisting on his horse (under heavy fire, and within a few yards of the enemy) one of the mounted men, who must otherwise have fallen into the enemy's hands. Private Wassal, 80th Regiment for his gallant'conduct in having, at the imminent risk of his own life, saved that of Private Westwood, of the same regiment. On the 22nd January, 1879, when the camp at Jsandhlwana was taken by the enpmy, Private Wassal retreated towards the Buflalo river in which he saw a comrade struggling and apparently drowning. He rode np to the bank, dismounted, leaving his horse on the Zulu side, rescued the man from the stream, and again mounted his horse, dragging Private Westward across the river under a heavy shower of bullets.