Gonville Bromhead
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| Gonville Bromhead | |
|---|---|
| 1845 - 1891 | |
 Gonville Bromhead c 1872 |
|
| Place of birth | Versailles, France |
| Place of death | Allahabad, British India |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | c 1871-1891 |
| Rank | Major |
| Battles/wars | Anglo-Zulu War : Rorke's Drift |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Gonville Bromhead VC (29 August 1845 - 9 February 1891) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Bromhead had a profound deafness which had restricted his promotion opportunities to this point in his life. It was this disability that prompted Bromhead to defer command to Chard during the Rorke's Drift Siege. Bromhead had been promoted to Lieutenant in 1871.[1][2]
He was a 33 year old lieutenant commanding B Company, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 and 23 January 1879 at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, Lieutenant Bromhead shared the command of the defenders of the post with an officer of the Royal Engineers (John Rouse Merriott Chard), setting a fine example and conducting himself with great gallantry in most trying circumstances.
After the battle he was immediately promoted to Captain and then Brevet Major.[3] The citation for his VC was published in the London Gazette on 2 May 1879:[4]
| “ | THE Queen has been graciously pleased to signify Her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross on the undermentioned Officers and Soldiers of Her Majesty's Army, whose claims have been submitted for Her Majesty's approval, for their gallant conduct in the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus, as recorded against their names, viz.:—
For their gallant conduct at the defence of Rorke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879. Royal Engineers Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J. R. M. Chard 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) G. Bromhead The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two Officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. The Lieutenant-General adds, that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young Officers who exercised the Chief Command on the occasion in question. |
” |
He received a substantive promotion to Major on 4 April 1883.[5]
Bromhead died of typhoid at Camp Dabhaura, Allahabad, British India where he is buried in a military cemetery. The church at Thurlby in Lincolnshire has a stained glass window dedicated to him. His grandfather, who fought at the Battle of Waterloo, is buried in its churchyard. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the South Wales Borderers Museum (Brecon, Powys, Wales).
He was considered to be Irish, despite being born in Versailles, France. His mother, Judith Christine Wood, was certainly Irish, being a native of Woodville, Co. Sligo. However, his father's home was Thurlby Hall, north of Bassingham, near Lincoln. He was known to be very hard of hearing.
In the 1964 film Zulu Gonville Bromhead was portrayed by Michael Caine, in his first starring role.
[edit] References
- ^ London Gazette: no. 23812, pages 5869–5870, 29 December 1871. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 23876, pages 3197–3199, 16 July 1872. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 24698, page 2310, 21 March 1879. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 24717, page 3177, 2 May 1879. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- ^ London Gazette: no. 25250, page 3532, 13 July 1883. Retrieved on 2007-11-28.
- Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Richard Howes, John Young
[edit] External links
- Lt. Gonville Bromhead (biography, photos, memorial details)
- Rorke's Drift (information within Frederick Hitch site)
Very rough location of where he is buried can be found on Google Earth at: 25° 27' 06.31" N 81° 48' 31.30" E
