Walter Norris Congreve
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC
KCB
MVO
DL
(20 November 1862 – 28 February 1927) was an English
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. He was 37 years old, and a captain in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
, British Army
during the Second Boer War
when he won the VC.
, Harrow School
and Pembroke College, Oxford
. He married Cecilia Henrietta Dolores Blount La Touche at St Jude's Church, South Kensington, on 18 May 1890.
, South Africa
, Captain Congreve with several others, tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga (gully) about 500 yards behind the guns and the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, with two other officers (The Hon. Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts
and Harry Norton Schofield
), and Corporal George Edward Nurse
retrieved two of the guns. All four received the VC for this action. (F.S.H. Roberts was the son in one of the two other father and son pairs of VC winners.) Then, although wounded himself, seeing one of the officers fall, Congreve went out with Major William Babtie
, RAMC, who also received the VC for this action, and brought in the wounded man. His citation read:
from November 1915. As commander of XIII Corps, Lt-Gen Congreve led the battles for Longueval and Delville Wood between 14 July and 3 September 1916. The rapid advance of his Corps in the southern sector of the Somme offensive had brought about a situation where the allied front was set at a right angle – the left sector facing north and the right, facing east from Delville Wood. This meant that an advance on a wide front would result in the attacking forces diverging from one–another as they advanced. In order to "straighten the line," General Sir Douglas Haig
had decided to exploit the advances which had been made by Congreve in the south by taking and holding the town of Longueval and Delville Wood. Being on fairly high ground and providing good spotting opportunities for artillery fire, an occupied Longueval would protect the right flank and allow the Allies to advance in the north and align their left with that of Congreve's XIII Corps on the right. XIII Corps succeeded in securing Delville Wood, but it was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the Somme, with both sides incurring large casualties. During World War I
, Congreve lost a hand in action.
and was knighted. He was General Officer Commanding
the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between 1919 and 1922 and then Commander-in-Chief
Southern Command
between 1923 and 1924.
From 1924 to 1927, he served as the governor of Malta
, where he died. At his request, he was buried at sea in the channel between the coast and Filfla
Island; there is a small monument to him on the coast between Hamrija Tower
and the prehistoric site of Mnajdra
; the channel between Malta and Filfla is unofficially known as Congreve Channel (the official name is 'Il-Fliegu ta' Filfla'). The presence of Congreve's monument in a place of prehistoric worship is considered a colonial sacrilege by a large section of the Maltese locals, and there have been repeated calls for its removal.
There is also a stone bearing his name above the gate to the "Scouts" HQ in Floriana, Valletta.
Congreve was the father of Major William La Touche Congreve
, VC - they are one of only three father and son pairs to win a VC. His younger son Geoffrey Cecil Congreve was created a Baronet, of Congreve in the County of Stafford, in July 1927 (see Congreve Baronets
).
(Winchester, England).
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General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
MVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(20 November 1862 – 28 February 1927) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. He was 37 years old, and a captain in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
The Rifle Brigade was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, formed in 1800 to provide sharpshooters, scouts and skirmishers...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
when he won the VC.
Early career
Walter Norris Congreve was the son of William and Fanny E. Congreve of Castle Church, Stafford. He was educated at Twyford SchoolTwyford School
Twyford School is a co-educational, independent, preparatory boarding and day school, located in the village of Twyford, Hampshire.-History:Twyford claims to be the oldest preparatory school in the United Kingdom....
, Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College, Oxford
Pembroke College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England, located in Pembroke Square. As of 2009, Pembroke had an estimated financial endowment of £44.9 million.-History:...
. He married Cecilia Henrietta Dolores Blount La Touche at St Jude's Church, South Kensington, on 18 May 1890.
Action at Colenso
On 15 December 1899 at the Battle of ColensoBattle of Colenso
The Battle of Colenso was the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War. It was fought between British and Boer forces from the independent South African Republic and Orange Free State in and around Colenso, Natal, South Africa on 15 December 1899.Inadequate...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, Captain Congreve with several others, tried to save the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, when the detachments serving the guns had all become casualties or been driven from their guns. Some of the horses and drivers were sheltering in a donga (gully) about 500 yards behind the guns and the intervening space was swept with shell and rifle fire. Captain Congreve, with two other officers (The Hon. Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts
Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts
Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts VC , son of the famous Victorian commander Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, was born in Umballa, India, and received the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and...
and Harry Norton Schofield
Harry Norton Schofield
Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Norton Schofield VC was an English 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:Schofield was 34 years old, and a captain in the Royal...
), and Corporal George Edward Nurse
George Edward Nurse
George Edward Nurse VC was born in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland. He was educated in the Channel Islands where both his parents had been born...
retrieved two of the guns. All four received the VC for this action. (F.S.H. Roberts was the son in one of the two other father and son pairs of VC winners.) Then, although wounded himself, seeing one of the officers fall, Congreve went out with Major William Babtie
William Babtie
Lieutenant General Sir William Babtie VC KCB KCMG was a Scottish 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 armed forces...
, RAMC, who also received the VC for this action, and brought in the wounded man. His citation read:
The Somme: Action at Delville Wood
Congreve commanded 6th Division from May 1915 and then XIII CorpsXIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
from November 1915. As commander of XIII Corps, Lt-Gen Congreve led the battles for Longueval and Delville Wood between 14 July and 3 September 1916. The rapid advance of his Corps in the southern sector of the Somme offensive had brought about a situation where the allied front was set at a right angle – the left sector facing north and the right, facing east from Delville Wood. This meant that an advance on a wide front would result in the attacking forces diverging from one–another as they advanced. In order to "straighten the line," General Sir Douglas Haig
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, KT, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCIE, ADC, was a British senior officer during World War I. He commanded the British Expeditionary Force from 1915 to the end of the War...
had decided to exploit the advances which had been made by Congreve in the south by taking and holding the town of Longueval and Delville Wood. Being on fairly high ground and providing good spotting opportunities for artillery fire, an occupied Longueval would protect the right flank and allow the Allies to advance in the north and align their left with that of Congreve's XIII Corps on the right. XIII Corps succeeded in securing Delville Wood, but it was one of the bloodiest confrontations of the Somme, with both sides incurring large casualties. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Congreve lost a hand in action.
Later life
Congreve continued his war service becoming General Officer Commanding VII Corps in 1918. Later Congreve rose to the rank of generalGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
and was knighted. He was General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
the Egyptian Expeditionary Force between 1919 and 1922 and then Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Southern Command
Southern Command (United Kingdom)
-History:The Command was established in 1905 from the Second Army Corps and was initially based at Tidworth but in 1949 moved to Fugglestone Farm near Wilton in Wiltshire....
between 1923 and 1924.
From 1924 to 1927, he served as the governor of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, where he died. At his request, he was buried at sea in the channel between the coast and Filfla
Filfla
Filfla is a small, barren, uninhabited islet south of Malta, and is the most southerly point of the Maltese Archipelago. Filfoletta, a small rocky islet some 100 meters southwest of Filfla, has the southernmost point of Malta....
Island; there is a small monument to him on the coast between Hamrija Tower
Hamrija Tower
Ħamrija Tower is a fortification that the Knights of Malta built on the island of Malta . It is a watchtower, one of 13 such towers that Grand Master Martin de Redin ordered built. The tower was constructed in 1659 as the 12th tower in the series of de Redin towers and the last on Malta's South...
and the prehistoric site of Mnajdra
Mnajdra
Mnajdra is a megalithic temple complex found on the southern coast of the Mediterranean island of Malta. Mnajdra is approximately 500 metres from the Ħaġar Qim megalithic complex...
; the channel between Malta and Filfla is unofficially known as Congreve Channel (the official name is 'Il-Fliegu ta' Filfla'). The presence of Congreve's monument in a place of prehistoric worship is considered a colonial sacrilege by a large section of the Maltese locals, and there have been repeated calls for its removal.
There is also a stone bearing his name above the gate to the "Scouts" HQ in Floriana, Valletta.
Congreve was the father of Major William La Touche Congreve
William La Touche Congreve
Major William "Billy" La Touche Congreve VC, DSO, MC was an English 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.- Life and career :He was at school at Summer Fields School,...
, VC - they are one of only three father and son pairs to win a VC. His younger son Geoffrey Cecil Congreve was created a Baronet, of Congreve in the County of Stafford, in July 1927 (see Congreve Baronets
Congreve Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Congreve, both in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Both creations are extinct....
).
Victoria Cross
Congreve's Victoria Cross is on display at the Royal Green Jackets MuseumRoyal Green Jackets Museum
The Royal Green Jackets Museum in Winchester, England showcases artifacts from British military history, specifically that of the Royal Green Jackets regiment and its preceding regiments....
(Winchester, England).
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