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A Barrow
V.C.
DEATH OF
MR SAMUEL WASSALL.
THE
PASSING OF A NOTABLE FIGURE.
Mr Samuel
Wassall, Barrow's veteran V.C.; passed away in the
North Lonsdale Hospital on Monday in his 70th Year.
The deceased
won his coveted decoration in the Zulu war in 1879
for gallant conduct in rescuing a comrade at the
risk of his own life, when the camp at Isandhlwana
on the Tufela River, about 10 miles from Rorke's
Drift was surprised and attacked.
Private
Wassall who was attached to the 80th Regiment,
during a retreat towards Buffalo River, saw a
comrade struggling in the water, and in great peril
of being either drowned or killed by the advancing
enemy. He at once galloped to the riverside,
dismounted, and under a hail of bullets entered the
water and succeeded with great daring in dragging
his comrade to the bank, and afterwards effecting
his escape.
In that
action, which was fought on January 22nd, 1879,
Private Wassall was one of a small number of British
soldiers who were assailed by an overwhelming force
of Zulus whom they succeeded in eventually driving
off. Private Wassall was only 21 years of age, and
had the distinction of being the youngest man in the
British Army at that time to win the V.C., for which
honour he was gazetted on July 17th, 1879.
Private
Wassall was always proud to take his place with
ex-Service men on ceremonial occasions at which the
military were present. He attended the unveiling of
the cenotaph in Barrow Public Park by General Sir W.
Robertson, who shook hands with Private Wassall and
congratulated him. On this and subsequent Armistice
Days Private Wassall was invariably asked to place
the ex-Service men's laurel wreath on the memorial.
He was one of several other Barrow members who were
introduced to the King at Furness Abbey station when
his Majesty, with the Queen, visited Barrow on May
17th, 1917.
In July 1920,
he was present at a reception by the King and Queen
at Buckingham Palace, which, he afterwards declared;
was one of the greatest experiences of his life. It
was his first visit to London, but the third time on
which he had shaken hands with the King.
Private
Wassall, lived at 34, Lyon street, having resided in
Barrow for 46 years. He is survived by his widow,
four sons and three daughters.
The
News, Saturday, February 5, 1927.
DEATH OF A V.C.
Private
Samuel Wassall, V.C., late of the 80th
(Staffordshire Volunteers) Foot, now the 2nd
Batallion South Staffordshire Regiment, who died at
Barrow yesterday, in his 70th year, was present at
the disaster of Isandlwana, in the Zulu War, on
January 22, 1879. He was awarded the Victoria Cross
in the following circumstances :- When the camp was
sacked and nearly every man massacred, he was one of
a few fugitives who succeeded in reaching the
Buffalo River, six miles away. Wassall had just
begun to ford the river when he saw one of his
comrades, Private Westwood, being carried down the
stream, with every appearance that he would be
drowned. Though the Zulus were close behind, Wassall
without hesitation sprang from his horse, which he
tied to a tree on the Zulu bank of the river, swam
to his comrade's assistance, and brought him back to
the shore. Then, remounting his horse, he urged the
animal across the river, dragging the exhausted man
by the hand, and succeeded in getting him safely to
the opposite side, in spite of brisk fire kept up by
the enemy, who had then reached the bank of the
river.
The
Times 1927
OBITUARY
The following
deaths are announced:
Mr. Samuel
Wassall, who as a private in the 80th Regiment won
the Victoria Cross for saving a comrade's life at Isandhlwana in 1879 during the Zulu War, at
Barrow-in-Furness, aged 70.
Daily
Mail 1927
THE
FUNERAL.
BURIED
WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS.
Covered with the flag he
loved so well, and fought so bravely for, the mortal
remains of Mr. Samuel Wassall, Barrow's veteran V.C.,
who died in the North Lonsdale Hospital on Monday in
his 70th year, were laid to rest in Barrow Cemetary
on Thursday afternoon. Quietly but reverently the
people of Barrow paid their last tribute to the
gallant old gentleman, and even his comrades at
Lichfield, the headquarters of his old regiment,
were represented by Sergt. F. Smith, 2nd Batt. South
Staffords. Regt.
Crowds assembled in the
streets near his residence, 34, Lyon-street about
half an hour before the cortege proceeded to borne
an open hearse and was almost obscured by the many
beautiful wreaths, tokens of affection and respect.
A detachment from the 4th
Battn. King's Own Royal Regt. headed the cortege,
and at the church door formed a guard of honour
through which the coffin was borne on the shoulders
of four sergeants, including Sergt. Smith.
Following the coffin came
Capt. R. H. Horne, T.D. Capt. H. B. Palmer, and
buglers from the 4th Battn. King's Own. Members of
the British Legion also attended and included Mahor
Oughterson, Lieut. Spencer, Lieut. Tickle,
Quartermaster Jones and others. Mr R. N. Hunt (an
ex-Marine) represented the local branch of the Navy
League.
The service at the church
was conducted by the Vicar, after which the firing
party assisted by the Rev. G. C. Potts. At this
cemetary the last rites were performed by the Vicar,
after which the firing party fired three volleys. As
the bugle strains of "The Last Post" died away, one
of England's heroes reposed peacefully in his last
resting place.
The chief mourners were
the widow; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Wassall, Mr and Mrs.
Albery Wassall, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Wassall and Mr.
Henry Wassall, sons and daughters-in-law; Mr. and
Mrs. Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. E.
Huddard, daughters and sons-in-law; Mr. Albert and
Mr. George Wassall; nephews; Mr. George and Mr.
Herbert Sutton; grandchildren.
The floral tributes
included those from Major Oughterson, Commander
Craven, R.N., O.B.E., members and committee of the
Gasworkers' Institute, electrical department. Barrow
Shipyard, South Staffordshire Regiment, and Old
COmrades Association, Lichfield.
Messrs. W. Ormandy and
Sons were the undertakers.
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