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He was 28 years old, and a Private in the 2nd Bn., 24th Regiment (later The South Wales Borderers) , British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22/23 January 1879 at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, a distant room of the hospital had been held for more than an hour by three privates, and when finally they had no ammunition left the Zulus burst in, and killed one of the men and two patients. One of the privates ( John Williams) however, succeeded in knocking a hole in the partition and taking the last two patients through into the next ward, where he found Private Hook. These two men then worked together - one holding the enemy at bayonet point while the other broke through three more partitions - and they were then able to bring eight patients into the inner line of defence.
He later achieved the rank of Sergeant.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the South Wales Borderers Museum (Brecon, Powys, Wales).
This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.