Teignmouth Melvill
Lieutenant, 1st Battalion 24th Regiment
- Register No.
- 858 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 1st Battalion 24th Regiment (register: 24th Regiment of Foot) all 24th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 22 January 1879 on this day → all of 1879 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Zulu War (Anglo-Zulu War)
- London Gazette
- the 2nd May, 1878 and 15th January, 1907 * on this day → all of 1878 →
- Born
- 8th September 1842 at London
- Died
- at the hands of the Zulu at Buffalo River, Zululand
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- on Fugitive's Drift, Natal, South Africa, also an inscription on the Colour Pike the 24th Regiment and at St Winnow's Church, Cornwall
Digest of citation
After the Zulu massacre at Isandhlwana, South Africa, Lieutenant Melvill made gallant effort to save the Regimental Colours. He and Lieutenant Coghill, who had tried to help, were pursued by Zulu warriors and they experienced great difficulty trying to escape across the swollen River Buffalo. The two officers* were overtaken by the Zulus and after a short but gallant struggle the two officers were overpowered and killed. The Regimental Colour, which had gone drifting downstream during the struggle, was retrieved from the River Buffalo 10 days later. two men lived, they would surely have been awarded the Victoria Cross. This was confirmed on 15th January 1907 when it was awarded to both men posthumously
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MELVILL, Teignmouth. (reg No. 858).
Lieutenant. 1st Battalion 24th Regiment * London Gazetted on the 2nd May, 1878 and 15th January, 1907 * Born on 8th September 1842 at London.
Died at the hands of the Zulu at Buffalo River, Zululand.
Memorial on Fugitive's Drift, Natal, South Africa, also an inscription on the Colour Pike the 24th Regiment and at St Winnow's Church, Cornwall.
Digest of Citation reads: After the Zulu massacre at Isandhlwana, South Africa, Lieutenant Melvill made gallant effort to save the Regimental Colours. He and Lieutenant Coghill, who had tried to help, were pursued by Zulu warriors and they experienced great difficulty trying to escape across the swollen River Buffalo. The two officers* were overtaken by the Zulus and after a short but gallant struggle the two officers were overpowered and killed. The Regimental Colour, which had gone drifting downstream during the struggle, was retrieved from the River Buffalo 10 days later.
* South Wales Borderers.
* The London Gazette reported on 2nd May 1878, that had these two men lived, they would surely have been awarded the Victoria Cross. This was confirmed on 15th January 1907 when it was awarded to both men posthumously.
* South Wales Borderers.
* The London Gazette reported on 2nd May 1878, that had these
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: on Fugitive's Drift, Natal, South Africa, also an inscription on the Colour Pike the 24th Regiment and at St Winnow's Church, Cornwall
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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