Arthur Frederick Pickard
| Arthur Frederick Pickard | |
|---|---|
 Arthur William Pickard, c1875 (IWM Q80669) | |
| Born |
12 April 1844 Northamptonshire, England |
| Died |
1 March 1880 (aged 35) Cannes, France |
| Buried at | Cimitiere Protestant du Grand Jus, Cannes |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars | Invasion of Waikato |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Companion of the Order of the Bath Order of Saint Stanislaus (Russia) Order of Leopold (Austria) |
Colonel Arthur Frederick Pickard VC, CB (12 April 1844 – 1 March 1880) was a British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Victoria Cross
Pickard was 19 years old, and a lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, during the Invasion of Waikato (one of the campaigns in the New Zealand Wars), when the following deed took place on 20 November 1863 at Rangiriri, New Zealand for which he and Assistant Surgeon William Temple were awarded the VC:
For gallant conduct during the assault on the enemy's position at Rangiriri, in New Zealand, on the 20th of November last, in exposing their lives to imminent danger, in crossing the entrance of the Maori keep, at a point upon which the enemy had concentrated their fire, with a view to render assistance to the wounded, and, more especially to the late Captain Mercer, of the Royal Artillery.Lieutenant Pickard, it is stated, crossed, and re-crossed the parapet, to procure water for the wounded, when none of the men could be induced to perform this service, the space over which he traversed being exposed to a crossfire; and testimony is borne to the calmness displayed by him, and Assistant-Surgeon Temple, under the trying circumstances in which they were placed.[1]
He later achieved the rank of colonel.
The Medal
His VC is on display at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum in London.[2]
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22896. p. 4552. 23 September 1864. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
- ↑ "Lord Ashcroft VC Collection". Retrieved January 15, 2013.
External links
- Rangiriri Pa (NZ heritage site visitor information)
- Burial location of Arthur Pickard "France"
- News Item "Arthur Pickard's Victoria Cross sold at auction"
- Arthur Frederick Pickard at Find a Grave