Arthur Frederick Pickard VC

Name: Arthur Frederick Pickard

Conflict: Maori Wars

Gazetted: September 22, 1864

Service: Army

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (later Colonel)

Place/date of birth: Forest Hill, Worksop, Nottinghamshire/April 12, 1841

Date of bravery: November 20 1863

London Gazette citation [joint award]:

Royal Artillery. Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Pickard. Date of Act of Bravery, November 20^th, 1863.

For gallant conduct during the assault on the enemy’s position at Rangiriri, in New Zealand, on the 20th of November last, in exposing their lives to imminent danger, in crossing the entrance of the Maori keep, at a point upon which the enemy had concentrated their fire, with a view to render assistance to the wounded, and, more especially to the late Captain Mercer, of the Royal Artillery.

Lieutenant Pickard, it is stated, crossed, and re-crossed the parapet, to procure water for the wounded, when none of the men could be induced to perform this service, the space over which he traversed being exposed to a cross-fire; and testimony is borne to the calmness displayed by him, and Assistant-Surgeon Temple, under the trying circumstances in which they were placed.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: CB

Place/date of death: Cannes, France/March 1, 1880

Grave/memorials:  Grand Jas Cemetery, Cannes, France

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Dunbar Sloane, Wellington, New Zealand, 2002

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum