Christopher Charles Teesdale

Lieutenant, Royal Regiment of Artillery

VC
Register No.
1205 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
Unit
Royal Regiment of Artillery all Royal Regiment of Artillery VCs →
Date of action
29 September 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
Conflict / campaign
Crimean War
London Gazette
25th September 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
Born
1st June 1833 at Grangetown, Cape of Good Hope, South
Died
1st December 1893 at Bognor, Sussex
Memorial / grave
at St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, Bersted, Bognor, Sussex
Medal held by
unknown

Digest of citation

Whilst acting as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir William Fenwick Williams Bart., KCB., at Kars, in the Crimea on 29th September 1855, Lieutenant Teesdale volunteered to take command of the force that was engaged in the defence of the foremost part of works , the key point of the position, against a Russian attack. Throwing himself into the thick of the enemy, which had penetrated the Redoubt, he encouraged the garrison to make an attack that was so vigorous that the Russians were driven off. During the height of the action, Lieutenant Teesdale, by his example, encouraged the Turkish Artillerymen to return to their positions, from where they been driven by Russian fire. Having led the final charge, which was victorious, he saved a number of Russian wounded from being savagely attacked by the irate Turks, not without great risk to his own safety. This deed, which was witnessed by, and earned Lieutenant Teesdale the gratitude of, the Russian Staff

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

TEESDALE, Christopher Charles. (reg No. 1205).

Lieutenant. Royal Regiment of Artillery.

London Gazetted on 25th September 1857.

VC Medal's Custodian is unknown.

Born on 1st June 1833 at Grangetown, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.

Died on 1st December 1893 at Bognor, Sussex.

Memorial on grave at St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, Bersted, Bognor, Sussex.

Digest of Citation reads: Whilst acting as Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Sir William Fenwick Williams Bart., KCB., at Kars, in the Crimea on 29th September 1855, Lieutenant Teesdale volunteered to take command of the force that was engaged in the defence of the foremost part of works , the key point of the position, against a Russian attack. Throwing himself into the thick of the enemy, which had penetrated the Redoubt, he encouraged the garrison to make an attack that was so vigorous that the Russians were driven off. During the height of the action, Lieutenant Teesdale, by his example, encouraged the Turkish Artillerymen to return to their positions, from where they been driven by Russian fire. Having led the final charge, which was victorious, he saved a number of Russian wounded from being savagely attacked by the irate Turks, not without great risk to his own safety. This deed, which was witnessed by, and earned Lieutenant Teesdale the gratitude of, the Russian Staff.

Additional information:. Major General Sir Christopher Teesdale was created a Knight Commander of the Order of Sir Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1887. He was also a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) . He served as ADC to Her Majesty Queen Victoria for 10 years and later as Master of Ceremonies to Her Majesty. He was Equerry to Edward, Prince of Wales. During a visit to Germany in 1893 he suffered an attack, causing slight paralysis. On 30th November, he suffered another paralysis attack and died the following day, 1st December 1893, at his home, The Ark, South Bersted, Bognor, Sussex. Sir Christopher Teesdale never married.

Additional information

Major General Sir Christopher Teesdale was created a Knight Commander of the Order of Sir Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1887. He was also a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) . He served as ADC to Her Majesty Queen Victoria for 10 years and later as Master of Ceremonies to Her Majesty. He was Equerry to Edward, Prince of Wales. During a visit to Germany in 1893 he suffered an attack, causing slight paralysis. On 30th November, he suffered another paralysis attack and died the following day, 1st December 1893, at his home, The Ark, South Bersted, Bognor, Sussex. Sir Christopher Teesdale never married.

Africa.

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Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, Bersted, Bognor, Sussex

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