James Henry Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel James Henry Reynolds VC
(3 February 1844 – 4 March 1932), born Kingstown
(Dún Laoghaire
), County Dublin
, was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross
for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, 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 educated at Castleknock College
and Trinity College, Dublin
.
in the Army Medical Department (later Royal Army Medical Corps
), British Army
during the Zulu War when the following deed took place on 22/23 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift
, Natal, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:
Surgeon Reynolds also had by his side the whole time during the battle his fox terrier
named Dick. Dick never wavered as shots and spears continued falling around them. He only left his side once to bite a Zulu who came too close. Dick was specially mentioned in the citation for "his constant attention to the wounded under the fire where they fell."
For his conduct in the battle, Reynolds was also promoted to Surgeon-Major (promotion dated 23 January 1879).
The battle was the subject of the 1964 film Zulu
, with Reynolds portrayed by the actor Patrick Magee
.
(Aldershot, England).
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....
(3 February 1844 – 4 March 1932), born Kingstown
Kingstown
Kingstown is the chief port of Saint Vincent, and the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With a population of 25,418 Kingstown is a centre for the island's agricultural industry and a port of entry for tourists...
(Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
), County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, was an Irish 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....
for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British 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 educated at Castleknock College
Castleknock College
Castleknock College is a private , secondary school for boys aged between 13 and 18, which is situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, 8 km west of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
and Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
.
Details
He was 34 years old, and a SurgeonSurgeon (disambiguation)
A surgeon is a person who performs surgery.Surgeon may also refer to:* Surgeon General , various high-ranking medical officials* Surgeon , the moniker of British electronic music producer and DJ, Anthony Child...
in the Army Medical Department (later Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
), 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 Zulu War when the following deed took place on 22/23 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift
Rorke's Drift
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of...
, Natal, South Africa, for which he was awarded the VC:
Surgeon Reynolds also had by his side the whole time during the battle his fox terrier
Fox Terrier
Fox Terrier refers primarily to two different breeds of the terrier dog type: the Smooth Fox Terrier and the Wire Fox Terrier. Both of these breeds originated in the 19th century from a handful of dogs who are descended from earlier varieties of British terriers, and are related to other modern...
named Dick. Dick never wavered as shots and spears continued falling around them. He only left his side once to bite a Zulu who came too close. Dick was specially mentioned in the citation for "his constant attention to the wounded under the fire where they fell."
For his conduct in the battle, Reynolds was also promoted to Surgeon-Major (promotion dated 23 January 1879).
The battle was the subject of the 1964 film Zulu
Zulu (film)
Zulu is a 1964 historical war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War....
, with Reynolds portrayed by the actor Patrick Magee
Patrick Magee (actor)
Patrick Magee was a Northern Irish actor best known for his collaborations with Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter, as well as his appearances in horror films and in Stanley Kubrick's films A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon.-Early life:He was born Patrick McGee in Armagh, County Armagh, Northern...
.
His account of the battle
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services MuseumArmy Medical Services Museum
The Army Medical Services Museum is located in the Defence Medical Services Training Centre, Keogh Barracks, on Mytchett Place Road, Mytchett, Surrey, England. It moved into its present building in 1982...
(Aldershot, England).
External links
- James Henry Reynolds (biography, photos, memorial details)
- Location of grave and VC medal (W. London)
- Surgeon-Major J.H. Reynolds
- Rorke's Drift (information within Frederick Hitch site)