James Firth VC

Name: James Firth

Conflict: Second Boer War

Gazetted: June 11, 1901

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Sheffield, Yorkshire/January 15, 1874

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Sergeant

Date of bravery: February 24, 1900

London Gazette citation:

1^st Battalion West Riding Regiment. Sergeant W. Firth.

During the action at Plewman’s Farm, near Arundel, Cape Colony, on the 24th February, 1900, Lance-Corporal Blackman having been wounded and lying exposed to a hot fire at a range of from four to five hundred yards, Sergeant Firth picked him up and carried him to cover.

Later in the day, when the enemy had advanced to within a short distance of the firing line, Second Lieutenant Wilson being dangerously wounded and in a most exposed position Sergeant Firth carried him over the crest of the ridge, which was being held by the troops, to shelter, and was himself shot through the nose and eye whilst doing so.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Sheffield, Yorkshire/May 29, 1921

Grave/memorials: Burngreave Cemetery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Spink, London, 1999

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