Zulu War Victoria Cross Recipient. 1362 Pvt. Fred Hitch served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, which was later 2nd Warwickshire Regiment of South Wales Borderers, in the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. On January 22, 1879, during the Zulu attack on the British post at Rorke's Drift in South Africa, Private Hitch was severely wounded in the shoulder while helping to evacuate patients from the burning hospital. Although unable to fire a gun himself, he remained on the line and helped pass out ammunition throughout the rest of the battle. For his actions Hitch was awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria herself, on August 12, 1879. He was discharged from the military with a disability of an impaired arm, which limited him in his ability to perform various tasks of manual labor for an income. After the war, Hitch became a cab driver, thus becoming the only London cab driver to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross. His original Victoria Cross was lost. Fred Hitch and the British defense at Rorke's Drift were made famous in 1964 with the movie "Zulu." He died of pleuro-pneumonia and heart failure.
Zulu War Victoria Cross Recipient. 1362 Pvt. Fred Hitch served in Company B, 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot, which was later 2nd Warwickshire Regiment of South Wales Borderers, in the Zulu War of 1879 in South Africa. On January 22, 1879, during the Zulu attack on the British post at Rorke's Drift in South Africa, Private Hitch was severely wounded in the shoulder while helping to evacuate patients from the burning hospital. Although unable to fire a gun himself, he remained on the line and helped pass out ammunition throughout the rest of the battle. For his actions Hitch was awarded the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria herself, on August 12, 1879. He was discharged from the military with a disability of an impaired arm, which limited him in his ability to perform various tasks of manual labor for an income. After the war, Hitch became a cab driver, thus becoming the only London cab driver to ever be awarded the Victoria Cross. His original Victoria Cross was lost. Fred Hitch and the British defense at Rorke's Drift were made famous in 1964 with the movie "Zulu." He died of pleuro-pneumonia and heart failure.
Inscription
South side: To the memory of / FREDERICK HITCH V.C. / born 2. Nov. 1856 - died 6. Jan. 1913 / This memorial / was erected by voluntary subscription / to commemorate / his heroic action at Rorke's Drift / 22. January 1879.
Gravesite Details
Large hewn granite block with helmet and cape at the top
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