Raymond de Montmorency

The Honourable Raymond de Montmorency
Born	5 February 1867 Montreal, Canada
Died	23 February 1900 (aged 33) Dordrecht, Cape Colony, South Africa
Buried at	Molteno Cemetery, near Dordrecht
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Lincolnshire Regiment 21st Lancers
Battles/wars	Mahdist War Second Boer War
Awards	Victoria Cross

The Honourable Raymond Harvey Lodge Joseph de Montmorency VC (5 February 1867 – 23 February 1900) was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. (Also considered a Canadian recipient due to his place of birth).

De Montmorency was born in Montreal, Canada, the eldest son and heir of Major-General Reymond de Montmorency, 3rd Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency, Representative Peer of Ireland, who served in the Crimean War, the Indian Rebellion, Abyssinia and the Mahdist War, and his wife Rachel Mary Lumley Godolphin Michel, daughter of Field Marshal Sir John Michel.

Details

De Montmorency was 31 years old, and a lieutenant in the 21st Lancers (Empress of India's), British Army during the Sudan Campaign when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

On 2 September 1898 at the Battle of Omdurman, Sudan, after the charge, Lieutenant de Montmorency returned to help an officer who was lying surrounded by a great many Dervishes. He drove the Dervishes off and finding that the officer was dead, put the body on his horse which then broke away. Captain Paul Aloysius Kenna and a corporal then came to his assistance and he was able to rejoin his regiment. His citation read:

'At the Battle of Khartum on the 2nd September 1898, Lieutenant de Montmorency, after the charge of the 21st Lancers, returned to assist Second Lieutenant R. G. Grenfell, who was lying surrounded by a large body of Dervishes. Lieutenant de Montmorency drove the Dervishes off, and, finding Lieutenant Grenfell dead, put the body on his horse which then broke away. Captain Kenna and Corporal Swarbrick then came to his assistance, and enabled him to re join, the Regiment, which had begun to open a heavy fire on the enemy.'^[1]

De Montmorency later achieved the rank of captain. He was killed in action at the Battle of Stormberg, Dordrecht, Cape Colony, South Africa, on 23 February 1900.^[2][3]

The 21st Lancers at Omdurman

References

1. The London Gazette: no. 27490. p. 6897. 31 October 1902. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
2. London Gazette
3. Brighton, Terry, The Last Charge: the 21st Lancers and the Battle of Omdurman. Marlborough: Crowood, 1998. ISBN 1-86126-189-6.