William Griffiths
Private, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers)
- Register No.
- 496 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers) (register: 24th Regiment of Foot) all 24th Regiment of Foot VCs →
- Date of action
- 7 May 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Andaman Islands Expedition
- London Gazette
- 17th September, 1867 on this day → all of 1867 →
- Born
- in 1841 at County Roscommon, Ireland
- Died
- 22nd January, 1879 at Isandhlwana. Zululand
Digest of citation
On some of May 1867 at the Island of a little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Private Griffiths was one of a party of five * of the 2nd/24th Regiment, who risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who were landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders. (reg No. 340) and T Murphy (reg No. 904). His Victoria Cross was awarded, not in battle, but along with four others, for saving the lives of 17 officers and men who would otherwise been at risk from hostile natives (cannibals). He held the rank of Cergeant when he was killed in the massacre at Isandhlwana, Zululand on 22nd January 1879
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
GRIFFITHS, William. (reg No. 496).
Private. 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment (South Wales Borderers).
London Gazetted on 17th September, 1867.
Born on in 1841 at County Roscommon, Ireland.
Died on 22nd January, 1879 at Isandhlwana. Zululand. Tribute on the Regimental Memorial at Isandhlwana, Zululand.
Digest of Citation reads: On some of May 1867 at the Island of a little Andaman, Bay of Bengal, Private Griffiths was one of a party of five * of the 2nd/24th Regiment, who risked their lives in manning a boat and proceeding through dangerous surf to rescue some of their comrades who had been sent to the island to find out the fate of the Commander and seven of the crew, who were landed from the ship Assam Valley and were feared murdered by the cannibalistic islanders.
* See David Bell (reg No. 75), J Cooper (reg No. 252), C M Douglas (reg No. 340) and T Murphy (reg No. 904). His Victoria Cross was awarded, not in battle, but along with four others, for saving the lives of 17 officers and men who would otherwise been at risk from hostile natives (cannibals). He held the rank of Cergeant when he was killed in the massacre at Isandhlwana, Zululand on 22nd January 1879.
* See David Bell (reg No. 75), J Cooper (reg No. 252), C M Douglas
Tribute on the Regimental Memorial at Isandhlwana, Zululand.
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