Edmund O'Toole
Sergeant (later Captain), Cape Frontier Light Horse South African Forces
- Register No.
- 953 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant (later Captain) all Sergeants →
- Unit
- Cape Frontier Light Horse South African Forces all Cape Frontier Light Horse South African Forces VCs →
- London Gazette
- 9th October 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Born
- Date unknown in Grahamstown, South Africa
- Died
- 1891 at Salsbury Rhodesia
- Memorial / grave
- not Known
Digest of citation
On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, during the retirement of a reconnoitring party, a Captain* of the 9th Lancers went to the assistance of an NCO of the 24th Regiment whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming up quickly in great numbers, but the officer, with the help of Sergeant O'Toole , managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that the sergeant, who had been keeping back the enemy, gave up his carbine and rode alongside to hold him on. They all finally reached safety
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
O'TOOLE Edmund (Reg. No. 953)
Sergeant (later Captain) Cape Frontier Light Horse South African Forces London Gazetted on 9th October 1879 Born on: Date unknown in Grahamstown, South Africa Died on: 1891 at Salsbury Rhodesia.
Memorials not Known.
Citation reads. On 3 July 1879 at Ulundi, Zululand, during the retirement of a reconnoitring party, a Captain* of the 9th Lancers went to the assistance of an NCO of the 24th Regiment whose horse had fallen and rolled on him. The Zulus were coming up quickly in great numbers, but the officer, with the help of Sergeant O'Toole , managed to mount the injured man behind him. He was, however, so dizzy that the sergeant, who had been keeping back the enemy, gave up his carbine and rode alongside to hold him on. They all finally reached safety.
* Captain Lord William Leslie de la Poer BERESFORD.
Additional information: O'Toole was the first South African-Born on man serving with a South African unit under British Command to win the VC. Mrs Stuart-Menzies in her "Recollections of Lord Beresford," wrote, that when Captain Lord Beresford had ridden to the rescue of Sergeant FitzMaurice from the Zulus, getting him away on his own horse, the enemy hot on their tails. Just when Lord Beresford felt that he could no longer support the Sergeant on the horse help came from Sergeant O'Toole who had been giving support by shooting Zulus, one after the other, as they came within the range of his revolver. The Sergeant had seen Beresford's problem and rode up to give support by riding at their side and supporting FitzMaurice. They managed to ride to safety. FitzMaurice, at first refused help, fearing that Captain Beresford should lose his life. It is of Interest that Beresford and FitzMaurice were Irish, O'Toole was also Irish and so was the horse that carried them both to safety. Bersesford was Born on at Mullaghbrack, Markethill, Co. Armagh. There is no information on O'Toole's family, apart from the fact that they were Irish, or his actual dates of birth and death..
Updated:15.1.03
Additional information
O'Toole was the first South African-Born on man serving with a South African unit under British Command to win the VC. Mrs Stuart-Menzies in her "Recollections of Lord Beresford," wrote, that when Captain Lord Beresford had ridden to the rescue of Sergeant FitzMaurice from the Zulus, getting him away on his own horse, the enemy hot on their tails. Just when Lord Beresford felt that he could no longer support the Sergeant on the horse help came from Sergeant O'Toole who had been giving support by shooting Zulus, one after the other, as they came within the range of his revolver. The Sergeant had seen Beresford's problem and rode up to give support by riding at their side and supporting FitzMaurice. They managed to ride to safety. FitzMaurice, at first refused help, fearing that Captain Beresford should lose his life. It is of Interest that Beresford and FitzMaurice were Irish, O'Toole was also Irish and so was the horse that carried them both to safety. Bersesford was Born on at Mullaghbrack, Markethill, Co. Armagh. There is no information on O'Toole's family, apart from the fact that they were Irish, or his actual dates of birth and death.. Updated:15.1.03
* Captain Lord William Leslie de la Poer BERESFORD.
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