VICTORIA CROSS HOLDERS BURIED IN BELGIUM

Everything started more than a decade ago. At that time (1995-1996) I was living in the RSA, Durban for professional reasons. During the weekends I started exploring the country. So, I read about “the battlefields” and more specifically ; Rorke’s Drift. Of course, I drove up to this place and I can only tell you : if you ever end up in South-Africa, this is absolutely a “place you have to visit” !!! Not only because of the battle that took place here the 22-23/1/1879, but especially for the fact that the environment has hardly changed since then ! In the local museum for example you will see manuscripts of soldiers stationed in Rorke’s Drift with some drawings of the place at that time. Print these drawings in your mind, go outside the museum and you will immediately see what they have drawn. Indeed, due to urbanization and co., most place in the world look completely different nowadays, but not at Rorke’s Drift.

It was here that I first learned about the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy for valour for persons of any rank in the Naval, Military and Air Forces of the United Kingdom, its colonies or territories, and Commonwealth countries that award UK honours; members of the Merchant Navy; and civilians serving under the orders, directions or supervision of any of the above-mentioned forces or services

At this place I learned that, since the introduction of the VC in 1856, the largest number of vc’s were awarded to a regiment for one action. At Rorke’s Drift, eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded. Seven to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot, one to the Army Medical Department, one to the Royal Engineers, one to the Commissariat and Transport Department and one to the Natal Native Contingent.

Once back in Belgium, where I live now , I started, together with some very good friends and family, to get more and more interested in the “local” battlefields; i.e. the World War 1 sites.  During one of our visits I suddenly thought : Why not visit, look for all the VC holders graves in Belgium ?

Et voilà.