Sergeant Henry Engleheart VC

Henry William Engleheart was born on 14 November 1863, son of Mr Francis Engleheart, formerly a member of the Stock Exchange, and grandson of Nathaniel B Engleheart, of Blackheath, London, the last of the Queen's Proctors (lawyer). He joined the 10th (The Prince of Wales's Own) Royal Hussars, and served with his regiment in the South African War of 1899-1902.
He was one of the party, under Brevet Major Aylmer Hunter Weston, that successfully destroyed the railway north of Bloemfontein on 13 Mar 1900. They had to charge through a Boer piquet, besides getting over four deep spruits, in order to creep back through the Boer lines. At the last of these spruits Sapper Webb's horse fell, and consequently he was left in a very dangerous position. Sergeant Engleheart went back to his assistance, through a deadly storm of shot and shell. He had to lose some time in getting Webb and his horse out of the spruit, and every moment the position became worse, owing to the rapid advance of the Boers. At last he succeeded in getting Webb back to the party. Just before this Sergeant Engleheart had shown great gallantry in dashing into the first spruit, which could only be approached in single file, and was still held by a party of Boers.
He was awarded the Victoria Cross, (London Gazette, 5 October 1900) . Sergeant Engleheart was one of the last five soldiers to whom Queen Victoria personally presented the Victoria Cross, on 15 December 1900. He was later promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant. He retired and lived in Berkshire, a house called Fairlight in Datchet. He died on 9 Aug 1939 and was cremated at Woking, his ashes being scattered in Bryon Garden of Remembrance.

Regimental Details | Soldiers