Edmund Phipps-Hornby VC

Edmund John Phipps-Hornby was born in Lordington House, Emsworth, Hampshire on 31 Dec 1857. He was the son of Admiral Sir Geoffrey Phipps Hornby. He entered the Royal Artillery on 9 Oct 1877 as a lieutenant, promoted to captain on 1 Feb 1886 and major on 11 Dec 1895. He served in Bechuanaland in 1884/5. With the rank of major, he commanded Q Battery RHA in the Anglo-Boer War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for the action at Koorn Spruit on 31 Mar 1900. This was an extraordinary award as Lord Roberts considered that the whole battery deserved the VC but chose to award one officer, one sergeant, one gunner and one driver. On 12 April 1901 Lieut-Colonel Phipps-Hornby was appointed ADC to Lord Roberts who was Commander-in-Chief. He was also appointed CB and CMG, and Deputy Lieutenant of Berkshire. He served in WW1 until 1915, and retired in 1918, achieving the rank of brigadier-general. He died at Sonning, Berkshire on 13 Dec 1947. His grave and memorial are in the churchyard of St Andrews at Sonning. He was married to Anna Jay in 1895 and they had two daughters, Evelyn and Betty.

Regimental Details | Soldiers | Charles Orr's Memoirs Volume 3