William John English
William John English VC was an Irish born recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.Details
English was educated at Harvey Grammar School in Folkstone, Kent from 1894 to 1898 and Campbell College, Belfast from 1898 to 1899. The following year he went to South Africa and in November joined the Scottish Horse, a yeomanry regiment raised for service in South Africa. He served in the ranks until he was commissioned in March 1901. He was 18 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Scottish Horse during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place on 3 July 1901 at Vlakfontein, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:
Following the end of the war, he went to the United Kingdom and received the decoration in person from the Prince of Wales during a large coronation parade of colonial troops in London on 1 July 1902.Later life
He was commissioned in the Royal Army Service Corps in 1906 from the 2nd Dragoon Guards. He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He saw action in three major wars.The medal
His medal group was bequeathed to his former school, Campbell College, Belfast. His medals included the Queen's South Africa Medal and 5 Bars, 1914 Star with Ribbon Bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, 1939-45 War Medal, King Edward VII Coronation Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal.
The medal group has been lent by their owners, Campbell College, for a 10-year period, from 2010, to the Imperial War Museum, London as part of their Victoria Cross and George Cross Collection.
