Ferdnand Christian Scheiss
Corporal, Natal Native Contingent. South African Forces
- Register No.
- 1113 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- Natal Native Contingent. South African Forces all Natal Native Contingent. South African Forces VCs →
- London Gazette
- 29th November, 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Born
- 7th April 1856 at Bergedorf, Berne, Switzerland
- Memorial / grave
- Buried at sea. Position Lat 13.00deg South by Long. 7deg 24' West (Recorded point of Ceremony) Memorial not known
- Medal held by
- the National Army Museum,London
Digest of citation
During the battle at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa on the 22nd/23rd January, 1879, Corporal Schiess,who had been wounded in the foot a few days previously, greatly distinguished himself when the garrison were repulsing, by use of the bayonet, a series of determined assaults by the Zulus. He showed great activity and devotion to duty throughout the defence. When the garrison had retired to the inner defences and the mealie bags were now occupied by the Zulus , Corporal Schiess crept along a wall, without any instruction, to deal with a Zulu who was shooting rather accurately. He succeeded in killing him and two other Zulus before returning to the inner defences
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
SCHEISS, Ferdnand Christian. (reg No. 1113).
Corporal. Natal Native Contingent. South African Forces.
London Gazetted on 29th November, 1879.
Born on 7th April 1856 at Bergedorf, Berne, Switzerland.
Died off the coast of Angola on board the Seraphis bound for England on 14th December, 1884 .
Buried at sea. Position Lat 13.00deg South by Long. 7deg 24' West (Recorded point of Ceremony)
Memorial not known. VCs Medal's Custodian is the National Army Museum,London.
Digest of Citation reads: During the battle at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa on the 22nd/23rd January, 1879, Corporal Schiess,who had been wounded in the foot a few days previously, greatly distinguished himself when the garrison were repulsing, by use of the bayonet, a series of determined assaults by the Zulus. He showed great activity and devotion to duty throughout the defence. When the garrison had retired to the inner defences and the mealie bags were now occupied by the Zulus , Corporal Schiess crept along a wall, without any instruction, to deal with a Zulu who was shooting rather accurately. He succeeded in killing him and two other Zulus before returning to the inner defences.
Additional information:. Corporal Schiess, a Swiss national, was the first person, while serving with South African Forces under British Command to win the Victoria Cross. He is one of 14 foreigners to win the VC. Not being able to find employment after his force was disbanded: he was found in Cape Town suffering from malnutrition. He was offered passage to England, paid for by the Royal Navy. During the voyage on the Seraphis, he became ill and died. He was buried at sea on 14th December 1884. There have been reports that he was seen in Allahabad and spoken to by a Captain Penn-Symons. this seems unlikely as the reporting of his fare for England being paid by the Royal Navy, as well as his death and position of his burial so accurately recorded.
Additional information
Corporal Schiess, a Swiss national, was the first person, while serving with South African Forces under British Command to win the Victoria Cross. He is one of 14 foreigners to win the VC. Not being able to find employment after his force was disbanded: he was found in Cape Town suffering from malnutrition. He was offered passage to England, paid for by the Royal Navy. During the voyage on the Seraphis, he became ill and died. He was buried at sea on 14th December 1884. There have been reports that he was seen in Allahabad and spoken to by a Captain Penn-Symons. this seems unlikely as the reporting of his fare for England being paid by the Royal Navy, as well as his death and position of his burial so accurately recorded.
Died off the coast of Angola on board the Seraphis bound for England
on 14th December, 1884 .
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Buried at sea. Position Lat 13.00deg South by Long. 7deg 24' West (Recorded point of Ceremony) Memorial not known
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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