21 Facts About Walter Congreve

Walter Congreve received the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Walter Norris Congreve was born in Chatham, Kent, on 20 November 1862, the son of William and Fanny E Congreve, of Castle Church, Stafford.

Walter Congreve's father was then a captain in the British Army, having served with both the 9th and 29th Regiments of Foot and would later become the chief constable of Staffordshire from 1866 until 1888.

Walter Congreve was commissioned into the militia battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment in January 1880.

Walter Congreve was present at the Second Battle of Colenso when British troops commanded by Sir Redvers Buller attempted to cross the Tugela River to relieve the besieged city of Ladysmith.

Captain Walter Congreve was shot through the leg, through the toe of his boot, grazed on the elbow and the shoulder, and his horse shot in three places.

Wounded, Walter Congreve did not take part in the actual relief of Ladysmith in February 1900, but he was back in service later that year, and served as a staff officer.

Walter Congreve served as adjutant in a newly established colonial mounted infantry regiment which, with the leave of Lord Roberts, was named after his chief of staff, "Kitchener's Horse".

Walter Congreve was promoted to major on 21 December 1901, and on the next day received a brevet promotion as lieutenant-colonel in recognition of services in South Africa.

Walter Congreve was mentioned in a despatch by Lord Kitchener in June 1902.

Walter Congreve was promoted to lieutenant colonel and colonel while serving on half-pay in July 1908.

At the outbreak of the First World War in the summer of 1914, Walter Congreve was a temporary brigadier-general, having been promoted to that rank in December 1911, when he assumed command of the 18th Brigade, part of the 6th Division.

Walter Congreve's brigade was on manoeuvres in Wales at the time of the war's outset.

The division was stationed near Neuve Chapelle when Walter Congreve's men took part in the 1914 Christmas truce.

Walter Congreve admitted he was reluctant to personally witness the scene of the truce for fear he would be a prime target for German snipers.

Walter Congreve, promoted in February 1915 to major general, was general officer commanding of the 6th Division from May onwards and then XIII Corps as a temporary lieutenant general from November 1915.

Walter Congreve was GOC of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between October 1919, when he was first appointed, and 1923 and then general officer commanding-in-chief of Southern Command between April 1923 and June 1924, when he relinquished this assignment.

From 1903 to 1924, Walter Congreve had a home in Shropshire at West Felton Grange.

Walter Congreve married at St Jude's Church, Kensington, on 18 May 1890, Cecilia Henrietta Dolores Blount La Touche.

Lady Walter Congreve was a nurse in the First World War, and a poet and author of "The Firewood Poem".

Walter Congreve's VC is on display at the Royal Green Jackets Museum, Winchester, Hampshire.