Frank William Baxter

Frank William Baxter VC (29 December 1869 – 22 April 1896) was a Rhodesian 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.

Frank William Baxter

VC
Born(1869-12-29)29 December 1869
Woolwich, London, England
Died22 April 1896(1896-04-22) (aged 26)
Umguza, Mashonaland, Rhodesia
Buried
Bulawayo Town Cemetery, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
AllegianceRhodesia
Service/branchBulawayo Field Force
RankTrooper
UnitGrey's Scouts
Battles/warsMatabeleland Rebellion
Awards Victoria Cross

Details

Born on 29 December 1869 in Woolwich, London, Baxter was 26 years old, and a trooper in the Bulawayo Field Force during the Matabeleland Rebellion, when, on 22 April 1896 (Matabeleland Rebellion), near Umguza, Mashonaland, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Baxter gave up his horse to a wounded comrade who was lagging behind, with an enemy force in hot pursuit. Baxter then tried to escape on foot, hanging on to the stirrup of another mounted scout of the Bulawayo Field Force, until he was hit in the side by enemy fire. He let go of the stirrup and died moments later.[1][2]

Baxter is buried at Bulawayo Town Cemetery, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The Medal

Baxter's medal is on display in the Lord Ashcroft VC collection[3] in the Imperial War Museum in London.

References
  1. "No. 27986". The London Gazette. 15 January 1907. p. 325.
  2. VictoriaCross.net Archived 24 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Lord Ashcroft VC collection". Retrieved 4 March 2013.
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