John Rouse Merriott Chard VC

Name: John Rouse Merriott Chard

Conflict: Zulu War

Gazetted: May 2, 1879

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Boxhill, near Plymouth, Devon/December 21, 1847

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

Date of bravery: January 22/23, 1879

London Gazette citation [joint citation]:

Royal Engineers. Lieutenant (now Captain and Brevet Major) J.R.M. Chard.

For their gallant conduct at the defence of Rorke’s Drift, on the occasion of the attack by the Zulus on the 22nd and 23rd January, 1879.

The Lieutenant-General commanding the troops reports that, had it not been for the fine example and excellent behaviour of these two Officers under the most trying circumstances, the defence of Rorke’s Drift post would not have been conducted with that intelligence and tenacity which so essentially characterised it.

The Lieutenant-General adds that its success must, in a great degree, be attributable to the two young Officers who exercised the Chief Command on the occasion in question.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset/ November 1, 1897

Grave/memorials: St John the Baptist Churchyard, Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset; Jesus Chapel, Rochester Cathedral, Kent; Shire Hall, Taunton; Ottery Church, Somerset; John Chard VC House, TA Centre, Swansea

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately in 2001

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