NAM.1967-10-66-1

Victoria Cross, 1874. From a medal group awarded to Capt (later Maj Gen) Reginald William Sartorius, 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, for his actions at Abogoo on 17th January 1874. Associated with the 2nd Ashanti War (1878-1880). Capt Sartorius was awarded the VC for rescuing a mortally wounded soldier during the attack of Abogoo, under heavy fire. Whilst it was for this act of bravery that he was awarded the VC, he is more widely renown for his ride through the ruins of Kumasi (Coomassie), accompanied with twenty Haussa soldiers, to act as a go-between for two groups of his regiment whose communication had been severed. The qualification for the VC must be for "conspicuous bravery or devotion to the country in the presence of the enemy", however as the enemy could not be seen in Kumasi (Coomassie), the minor incident at Abagoo was used instead for the recommendation of the VC. Sartorius was born on the Isle of Wight on 8th May 1841 and died on 7th August 1907. He was the brother of Maj Gen Euston Henry Sartorius, who was also awarded a VC.

2nd Afghan War (1878-1880)