Harry Norton Schofield

Harry Norton Schofield
Born 29 January 1865
Audenshaw, Manchester
Died 10 October 1931 (aged 66)
Connaught Gardens, London
Buried at Putney Vale Cemetery (51°26′23″N 0°14′27″W / 51.439639°N 0.240789°W / 51.439639; -0.240789Coordinates: 51°26′23″N 0°14′27″W / 51.439639°N 0.240789°W / 51.439639; -0.240789)
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1884 - 1905, 1914 - 1918
Rank Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit Royal Field Artillery
Battles/wars

Second Boer War

World War I
Awards Victoria Cross
A granite headstone surmounted by a Celtic cross, among several other gravestones
Schofield's grave at Putney Vale Cemetery, London, in 2015

Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Norton Schofield VC (29 January 1865 – 10 October 1931) was an English 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.

Details

Schofield was 34 years old, and a captain in the Royal Artillery (Royal Field Artillery), British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 15 December 1899, at the Battle of Colenso, South Africa, Captain Schofield with several others tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns by infantry fire at close range. Captain Schofield went out with two other officers (Walter Norris Congreve and Frederick Hugh Sherston (The Hon.) Roberts) and a corporal (George Edward Nurse) when the first attempt was made to extricate the guns and helped in withdrawing the two that were saved. Schofield was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Order, but this was subsequently upgraded to the VC, his citation reads:

At Colenso, on the 15th December, 1899, when the detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been killed, wounded, or driven from them by Infantry fire at close range, Captain Schofield went out when the first attempt was made to extricate the guns, and assisted in withdrawing the two that were saved.[1]

Schofield received the medal from King Edward VII during an investiture at St. James´s Palace 29 October 1901.[2]

Further information

Blue plaque at Ryecroft Hall, Audenshaw

Schofield served in the First World War and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.

References

  1. The London Gazette: no. 27350. p. 5737. 30 August 1901. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
  2. "Court circular" The Times (London). Wednesday, 30 October 1901. (36599), p. 4.

External links

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