Gonville Bromhead

From Alf Askin's research notes

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

BROMHEAD Gonville.(Reg. No 124)

Lieutenant 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment (later South Wales Borderers)

London Gazetted on 2nd May 1879.

VC Medal's Custodian is the South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon, Wales.

Born on 29th August 1845 at Versailles, France.

Died on 9th February 1891 at Allahabad, India.

Memorials at grave in The New Cantonment Cemetery, Allahabad, India Also a plaque in the Havard Chapel, Brecon Cathedral. Memorials also at Magnus Grammar School, Newark on Trent and in Thurlby Church, Lincolnshire.

Digest of Citation reads: On 22nd and 23rd January 1879 at Rourke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, Lieutenant Bromhead shared the command of the defenders of the post with Lieutenant J.R.M.Chard (Reg No.203) of the Royal Engineers, setting a fine example and conducting himself with great gallantry in most trying circumstances Additional information: Gonville Bromhead was Born in Versailles, France to Sir Edmund de Gonville Bromhead Bart. and Judith Christine (née Wood) daughter of James Wood Esq. Of Woodville, Sligo. Gonville was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark. He joined the 24th Regiment as an Ensign on the 20th April 1867 Serving in the South African War of 1877 to 1879, He was mentioned in Despatches. (London Gazette dated 1st March and 15th March,1879 He was promoted to Captain and was given the Brevet* of a Major. He also received the South African Medal with clasp as well as being awarded the Victoria Cross. The London Gazette 2nd May 1879 told the following. Lieut. Chard, Royal Engineers, and Lieut. Gonville S. Bromhead, 2nd Battn. 24th Regt.. For their gallant conduct at the defence of Rourke's Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd of June,1879. The Lieut. General commanding the troops, in his report, stated that if it was not for the fine conduct and excellent behaviour of these two officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke's Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it. He was presented with his Victoria Cross at a ceremony held on the 22nd of August 1879 at Utrecht, Holland by Sir Garnet Wolseley. Major Bromhead served in the Burmese Expedition of 1885 and 1887-9 recieving the Medal and two clasps. He Died on at Lucknow, India on the 10th of February 1891.

*Brevet: A document conferring the privilege of a sovereign or government, ie, a rank in the army without the appropriate pay.