NAM.1958-11-96-1

Victoria Cross, 1879. From a medal group awarded to Cpl Christian Ferdinand Schiess, 2nd Bn, 3rd Natal Native Contingent, for gallantry during the defence of Rorke’s Drift, Zulu War, 22-23 Jan 1879. Having been wounded in the foot by a Zulu at the Capture of Sirayo's Kraal on 12th January 1879, Cpl Scheiss was in the hospital at Rorke's Drift when the post was attacked by Zulus. Despite being wounded Cpl Scheiss displayed great bravery when he crept along the wall, without any orders, to kill a Zulu who was shooting. Born in Burgdorf ,Switzerland on 7th April 1856 and raised in an orphanage, Schiess later settled in South Africa and joined a British Colonial Unit, serving with them throughout the Zulu War. He became the first Swiss National to be awarded the Victoria Cross and the first man serving with South African forces to be decorated with the supreme British award for gallantry. He later died in poverty during a sea voyage to England in 1884.

Rorke’s Drift, Battle of, 1879 (Zulu War 1879)