Christian Ferdinand Schiess
Christian Ferdinand Schiess (born April 7, 1856 in Burgdorf , Canton Bern , † December 14, 1884 off the coast of Angola ) was a Swiss mercenary and bearer of the Victoria Cross .
Life
Christian Ferdinand Schiess was born as the son of Niklaus Schiess, a citizen of Herisau , and Anna Schiess born. Ruchti von Münchenbuchsee , baptized in Burgdorf. He grew up in an orphanage and served as a 15-year-old on France's side in the Franco-Prussian War .
At the age of 22 he fought as a corporal of the Natal Native Contingent under British command in the Zulu War . He called himself Friederich Schiess and pretended to be a South African. On January 22nd, 1879 he took part in the battle of 139 British soldiers against about 4,000 Zulu at Rorke's Drift .
For his services in this battle he was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross, the highest award in Great Britain for outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy . The Victoria Cross was awarded to Schiess on February 3, 1880 on the occasion of a parade in Pietermaritzburg . The medal is now in the National Army Museum in Chelsea (London) . Schiess died at the age of 28 on the voyage to England due to illness. He was buried in the Atlantic .
literature
- Kevin Brazier: The Complete Victoria Cross: A Full Chronological Record of All Holders of Britain's Highest Award for Gallantry. Fully Revised and Updated Paperback Edition. Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley 2015, ISBN 978-1-4738-4351-6 .
Web links
- Cpl. Christian Ferdinand Schiess (Natal Native Contingent) at rorkesdriftvc.com (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ London Gazette . No. 24788, HMSO, London, December 2, 1879, p. 7148 ( PDF , English).
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Schiess, Christian Ferdinand |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Shoot, Friederich |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Swiss mercenaries and bearers of the Victoria Cross |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 7, 1856 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Burgdorf , Canton of Bern |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 14, 1884 |
| Place of death | off the coast of Angola |