There is an online site for the Vicrtoria Cross recipients.
http://www.victoriacross.co.uk/list_d.htmlWe actually have two both awarded in 1879 the same battle in the Zulu Wars.
WASSALL
WASSALL, Samuel. (reg No. 1277).
Private. 80th Regiment. *
London Gazetted on 17th June 1879.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Staffordshire Regimental Museum, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire. Born on 28th July 1856 at Aston, Warwickshire.
Died on 31st January 1927 at Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire.
Memorials on grave at Barrow-in-Furness Cemetery, Lancs., and in the garrison church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire. (A New Headstone was erected on the grave in 1986).
Digest of Citation reads:
On 22nd January 1879, Private Samuel Wassall, without concern for his own life, which was in imminent danger, rescued Private Westwood, a comrade of the 80th Regiment. The British and Native encampment at Isandhlwana, came under attack from 20,000 of King Cetswayo's Zulus. Private Wassall was retreating towards the Buffalo River, when he saw Private Westwood struggling, apparently drowning, in the river. Leaving his horse on the Zulu side of the river, he rescued his comrade from the fast-flowing water. Remounting his horse, he dragged Private Westwood across the river to safety under a hail of bullets from the Zulus.
* South Staffordshire Regiment.
