James Pitts
Private, 1st Battalion. Manchester Regiment
- Register No.
- 990 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion. Manchester Regiment all Manchester Regiment VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 January 1900 on this day → all of 1900 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second Boer War
- London Gazette
- the 26th July, 1901 on this day → all of 1901 →
- Born
- the 26 the February 1877 at Blackburn, Lancashire
- Died
- 18th February 1955 at Blackburn, Lancashire
- Memorial / grave
- not known
Digest of citation
During an attack on Caesar's Camp in Natal, South Africa, on the 6th January 1900, when 16 men of 'D' Company, Manchester Regiment were defending one of the slopes of the hill, Private Pitts and Privates Scott occupied a sangar *. On their left all of our men had been shot and their positions occupied by the Boers. These two men stayed at their post, without food or water, all the time under extremely heavy fire from the enemy, for 15 hours. During this period they kept a keen lookout and exchanged their fire, even though, on their immediate left rear, the Boers occupied the sangars close by. Private Pitts and Private Scott held this position until the Boers were driven from the hill by relieving troops
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
PITTS, James. (reg No. 990).
Private. 1st Battalion. Manchester Regiment.
London Gazetted on the 26th July, 1901.
Born on the 26 the February 1877 at Blackburn, Lancashire.
Died on 18th February 1955 at Blackburn, Lancashire.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads: During an attack on Caesar's Camp in Natal, South Africa, on the 6th January 1900, when 16 men of 'D' Company, Manchester Regiment were defending one of the slopes of the hill, Private Pitts and Privates Scott occupied a sangar *. On their left all of our men had been shot and their positions occupied by the Boers. These two men stayed at their post, without food or water, all the time under extremely heavy fire from the enemy, for 15 hours. During this period they kept a keen lookout and exchanged their fire, even though, on their immediate left rear, the Boers occupied the sangars close by. Private Pitts and Private Scott held this position until the Boers were driven from the hill by relieving troops.
Additional information:. James Pitts became a lance-corporal in the Army Reserve. His colleague Privates Scott also received the Victoria Cross.
* Sangar (sanga): A stone breastwork around a hollow.
Additional information
James Pitts became a lance-corporal in the Army Reserve. His colleague Privates Scott also received the Victoria Cross.
* Sangar (sanga): A stone breastwork around a hollow.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: not known
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