THE VICTORIA CROSS AND CAMPAIGN MEDALS AWARDED TO SURGEON MAJOR HARRY WHITCHURCH, BENGAL MEDICAL SERVICE, HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE MICHAEL ASHCROFT TRUST. |
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10 November 2010 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Surgeon Major Harry Whitchurch, Bengal Medical Service, have been acquired by the Michael Ashcroft Trust, the holding institution for Lord Ashcroft's VC Collection. |
For the award of the Victoria Cross [ London Gazette, 16 July 1895 ], Chitral Fort, North West Frontier, India, 3 March 1895, Surgeon Captain Harry Frederick Whitchurch, Bengal Medical Service, Indian Army.
During the sortie from Chitral Fort of the 3rd March last, at the commencement of the siege, Surgeon-Captain Whitchurch went to the assistance of Captain Baird, 24th Bengal Infantry, who was mortally wounded, and brought him back to the fort under a heavy fire from the enemy. (*) The reference to Gurkhas is confusing as there were no Gurkha regiments involved. Three companies of the 4th Kashmir Rifles were of Gurkha composition and it is to these to which the citation refers.
Harry Whitchurch was invested with his Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Osborne House, Isle of Wight, on the 27th July 1895.
Harry Whitchurch died on the 16th August 1907 at Dharmsala, Punjab, from enteric fever, aged 40. He was buried in St John in the Wilderness Churchyard, Dharmsala, India, a day later and there is a headstone. |
Iain Stewart, 10 November 2010