Edmund Hartley

Colonel Edmund Baron Hartley VC CMG (6 May 1847 – 20 March 1919[1]) was a 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.

Edmund Hartley
Born6 May 1847
Ivybridge, Devon
Died20 March 1919
Ash, Surrey
Buried
Brookwood Cemetery
(51.299786°N 0.627923°W / 51.299786; -0.627923)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branchCape Colonial Forces
Years of service1877–1902
RankColonel
UnitCape Mounted Riflemen
Battles/warsAnglo-Zulu War
Basuto Gun War
Second Boer War
AwardsVictoria Cross
Order of St Michael and St George

The deed

Hartley was born in Ivybridge, Devon, England, on 6 May 1847.[2] He was 32 years old, and a surgeon major in the Cape Mounted Riflemen, Cape Colonial Forces during the Basuto Gun War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 5 June 1879 in South Africa, Surgeon Major Hartley attended the wounded under fire at the unsuccessful attack at Moorosi's Mountain. From an exposed position, on open ground, he carried in his arms a wounded corporal of the Cape Mounted Riflemen. The surgeon major then returned under severe enemy fire in order to dress the wounds of the other men of the storming party.[3]

Hartley's grave in Brookwood Cemetery

Later service

He later achieved the rank of surgeon colonel and, in March 1900 during the Second Boer War fighting at Aliwal, he is mentioned doing ambulance work, ferrying away the wounded under fire.[4]

In November 1900 he was reported wounded following the occupation of Philippolis by Lovat Scouts and Seaforth Highlanders[5]

On 19 April 1901 he was appointed a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George[6] He died in Ash, Hampshire and is buried at Brookwood Cemetery.[2]

The Medal

In 1955 the Victoria Cross medal was bought at Sotheby's for the then record price of £300.[7] It is now displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Mytchett, Surrey.

References
  1. "British Medical Journal – April 19, 1919". Br Med J. 1 (3042): 505. doi:10.1136/bmj.1.3042.505-b. PMC 2341123.
  2. Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross in: Brookwood cemetery, Woking, Surrey Archived 28 October 2004 at the Wayback Machine from victoriacross.org.uk
  3. "No. 25023". The London Gazette. 7 October 1881. p. 4990.
  4. 'The Times; The Advance Of The Colonial Division; 10 Apr 1900; pg4 col F
  5. The Times; Recent British Successes; 13 Nov 1900; pg5 colC
  6. The Times; Official Appointments and Notices; 6 Jul 1901; pg16 colB
  7. £1700 World Record...;The Times; 22 Jan 1969; pg 12 col F
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