24 Facts About Gonville Bromhead

Major Gonville Bromhead VC was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the British armed forces.

Gonville Bromhead received the medal for his part in the defence of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, in which a small British garrison of 139 soldiers successfully repulsed an assault by some 4,000 Zulu warriors.

Gonville Bromhead entered the 24th Regiment of Foot as an ensign in 1867 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1871.

Gonville Bromhead's battalion was deployed to southern Africa in 1878 and subsequently served in the Ninth Cape Frontier War and the Anglo-Zulu War.

Gonville Bromhead spent most of the remainder of his career in south Asia, where he was promoted to major in 1883 and saw service in the Third Anglo-Burmese War.

Gonville Bromhead died in 1891 in Allahabad, India, at the age of 45.

Gonville Bromhead was born on 29 August 1845 in Versailles, France.

Gonville Bromhead came from a notable military family: his great-grandfather, Boardman Bromhead, fought under Major General James Wolfe at Quebec; his grandfather, Sir Gonville Bromhead, was a lieutenant general who fought in the American Revolutionary War; his father was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo; and his three older brothers were officers in the British Army.

However, according to historian Ian Knight, contrary to popular belief, Gonville Bromhead's deafness did not affect his ability to command his men.

Nevertheless, Gonville Bromhead was not highly regarded by his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Henry James Degacher, who privately described him as "hopeless".

On 1 February 1878, Gonville Bromhead's battalion was dispatched to the British Cape Colony in response to a request for reinforcements to assist in the Ninth Cape Frontier War.

Gonville Bromhead was consequently sent back to England to recover, and command of the company temporarily passed to Bromhead.

At the outbreak of the Anglo-Zulu War, Gonville Bromhead's battalion was assigned to Lord Chelmsford's main invasion column which entered Zulu territory on 11 January 1879.

However, along with a large contingent of Natal Native Contingent troops, Gonville Bromhead's company was ordered to stay behind and guard the mission station until they were replaced by a detachment from the 2nd Battalion 4th Regiment which was en route from the rear.

Gonville Bromhead took up a position alongside Private Frederick Hitch at the corner of the barricade most exposed to Zulu sniper fire, and used "his rifle and revolver with deadly aim" while encouraging his men "not to waste one round".

At this point Gonville Bromhead had a near miss when, unbeknownst to him, a Zulu warrior jumped the barrier intending to spear him.

Hitch was later shot through the shoulder and after he was bandaged up Gonville Bromhead gave him his revolver which enabled Hitch to continue shooting with one arm.

Gonville Bromhead is a stupid old fellow, as deaf as a post.

Gonville Bromhead was posted to Gibraltar in 1880, and in August was dispatched to India, where he remained until March 1881.

Gonville Bromhead then returned to England, where he attended the School of Musketry, Hythe, between October and December 1882, and gained a First Class Extra Certificate.

Gonville Bromhead returned to India in 1883 with his battalion, which was based at Secunderabad, and was promoted to full major on 4 April that year.

The battalion was posted to Allahabad, India, where Gonville Bromhead died of typhoid fever on 9 February 1891.

Gonville Bromhead was buried in the New Cantonment Cemetery in Allahabad.

Gonville Bromhead is a main character in Peter Ho Davies's story "Relief", which appeared first in The Paris Review and was later published in Davies's 1997 collection The Ugliest House in the World.