Robert Scott (VC)

Robert Scott born Haslingden, Lancashire, June 4, 1847 was by birth an English 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.

He was 25 years old, and a Private in the 1st Bn., Manchester Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 6 January 1900 during an attack on Caesar's Camp, Natal, South Africa, 16 men of "D" Company were defending one of the slopes of the hill. The defenders were under heavy fire all day, the majority being killed and their positions occupied by the enemy. At last only Private Scott and one other man (James Pitts) remained. They held their post for 15 hours without food or water, all the time exchanging deadly fire with the enemy, until relief troops had retaken the lost ground and pushed the enemy off the hill.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Manchesters (Ashton-under-Lyne, England).

• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)
• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

• Location of grave and VC medal (Co. Down, Northern Ireland)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.