Extract from General Orders

General Order No. 23

Pietermarizburg

30th July 1879

The Queen has been most graciously please to signify her intention to confer the decoration of the Victoria Cross upon Private S Wassall 80th Regiment for his gallant conduct in having at the risk of his own life saved that of Private T Westwood of the same regiment on the 23rd January 1879 when the camp at Isandhlwana was taken by the enemy.

Private Wassall retreated towards the Buffalo river, in which he saw a comrade struggling and apparently drowning. He rode to the bank dismounted leaving his horse on the Zulu side rescued the man from the river and again mounted his horse dragging Private Westwood across the river under a heavy shower of bullets.

Signed H H Clifford Major General

Inspector General Line of Command and Base