VC Action: Herman Albrecht VC (1876 - 6 January 1900), a South African, was about 24 years old, and a Trooper in the Imperial Light Horse (Natal), South African Forces during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 6 January 1900 during the attack on Wagon Hill (Ladysmith), South Africa, Ian Hamilton, Miller-Wallnutt, Captain Fitzgerald, Sergeant Lindsay, and Trooper Albrecht, I.L.H., Gunner Sims, RN., and others threw themselves against, the stream of panic-stricken men and checked their flight. Then they sprang forward to the crest. A dozen Boers had leapt on to the summit But in the teeth of a hail of bullets from the Imperial Light Horse fort, 200 yards away, all but three hung back. The three, De Villiers, De Jager and Gert Wessels, rushed forward. There was a wild race for the gun-pits. Hamilton reached the 4.7 emplacement first, and, leaning his arm on the sandbag parapet, fired his revolver at the nearest Boer. Almost immediately Albrecht fired from outside the pit, while, at the same moment, from the other gun pit rose the head and shoulders of Lieutenant Robert Digby-Jones and of Corporal Hockaday, R.E., each firing at his man. De Villiers and De Jager fell dead against the wall of the 4.7 gun-pit, Wessels at the lower emplacement. Miller-Wallnutt fell, shot through the head, as he reached the 4.7 gun-pit, the brave Albrecht a second later.
Trooper Albrecht was awarded the Victoria Cross by King Edward. for which he would have been recommended had he lived. The Victoria Cross was given to Albrecht's representatives in accordance with the regulations of 8 August 1902. |
