Ferdinand Schiess
Christian Ferdinand Schiess | |
|---|---|
 Detail from Alphonse de Neuville's 1880 "The Defense of Roarke's Drift" reputedly depicting Ferdinand Schiess. | |
| Born | 7 April 1856 Burgdorf, Switzerland |
| Died | 14 December 1884 (aged 28) South Atlantic |
| Buried | Buried at sea |
| Allegiance | Colony of Natal |
| Years of service | 1877 - 1879 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | Natal Native Contingent |
| Battles / wars | Anglo-Zulu War *Rorke's Drift |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Christian Ferdinand Schiess VC (7 April 1856[1] – 14 December 1884) was a Swiss 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. He died in poverty at just 28.
He was 22 years old, and a corporal in the Natal Native Contingent, South African Forces during the Zulu War. On 22 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift, Natal, Corporal Schiess, in spite of having been wounded in the foot a few days previously, displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line of defence and the Zulus had occupied the wall of mealie bags which had been abandoned. He crept along the wall in order to dislodge one of the enemy and succeeded in killing him and two others before returning to the inner defences.[2][3]
Schiess was the first man serving with South African Forces under British Command to receive the VC.
After the volunteer forces were disbanded, he failed to find work, even from British authorities. In 1884, he was found on the streets of Cape Town suffering from exposure and malnutrition. The Royal Navy found him, gave him food, and offered him a passage to England on board the Serapis. He accepted, but became ill during the voyage and died. His remains were buried at sea at approximately 13°00′S 07°24′W / 13.000°S 7.400°W. It is unknown if there was a portrait of Corporal Schiess. According to some, in Lady Butler's painting of "Rorke's Drift" he is shown lying at left against the mealie bags.[citation needed]
The Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Army Museum.[4]
References
- ^ http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol093fe.html
- ^ "No. 24788". The London Gazette. 2 December 1879.
- ^ Stewart, Rupert (1916). The book of the Victoria cross. London: H. Rees. p. 419.
- ^ http://www.nam.ac.uk/online-collection/image-zoom.php?img_ref=78088
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
External links
- Cpl. Christian Ferdinand Schiess (biography)
- Rorke's Drift (information within Frederick Hitch site)
- Discussion that Schiess is depicted in Lady Elizabeth Butler's 1879 painting "The Defence of Rorke's Drift" {For painting see [1]}
- Christian Ferdinand Schiess at FInd a Grave Note this picture is actually that of Alan Richard Hill, VC! not that of Schiess!