Lewis Stratford Tollemache Halliday
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Lewis Stratford Tollemache Halliday VC
, KCB
(14 May 1870 – 9 March 1966) 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.
during the Boxer Rebellion
in China
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 24 June 1900 at Peking, China, an attack was made on the British Legation by the Boxers who set fire to the stables and occupied some of the other buildings. It being imperative to drive the enemy out, a hole was knocked in the Legation wall and 20 men of the RMLI went in. Captain Halliday, leading a party of six men, was involved in desperate fighting and was severely wounded but despite his injuries, he killed four of the enemy. Finally, unable to carry on any further, he ordered his men to go on without him, after which he returned to the legation alone, telling his men 'carry on and not mind him', so as not to diminish the number of men engaged in the sortie. He walked 3 miles unaided to the hospital although his shoulder was half blown out and his left lung punctured.
His citation read:
He was promoted to brevet major for his part in the legation's defence.
, and then commanded the Marines aboard HMS Empress of India
, the flagship of the home fleet. In 1907 having completed staff college at Camberley, he was appointed staff officer to the Portsmouth Division of his corps. He then commanded a company of Gentleman Officer Cadets at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst for four years during which time he was promoted to major
. Among his cadets was the future Field Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis
. In early 1915 he was promoted to brevet
lieutenant-colonel and on 14 July of that year he was made lieutenant-colonel. In November 1915 he joined GHQ, Home Forces as General Staff Officer. 1920 he was appointed Colonel 2nd Commandant and on 1 January 1923 he became colonel commandant
. 11 December 1925 he was promoted to major general
, to lieutenant-general on 11 June 1927 and to full general
on 1 October 1928. He was ADC to King George V in 1924 and 1925, and was Adjutant General of the Royal Marines from 1 October 1927 to his voluntary retirement in 1930. Having been appointed as Companion of the Bath on 3 June 1913, he became Knight Commander of the Bath on 1 January 1930.
in Southsea
, England
.
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 Lewis Stratford Tollemache Halliday 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...
(14 May 1870 – 9 March 1966) 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.
Details
Halliday was 30 years old, and a captain in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, Royal MarinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 24 June 1900 at Peking, China, an attack was made on the British Legation by the Boxers who set fire to the stables and occupied some of the other buildings. It being imperative to drive the enemy out, a hole was knocked in the Legation wall and 20 men of the RMLI went in. Captain Halliday, leading a party of six men, was involved in desperate fighting and was severely wounded but despite his injuries, he killed four of the enemy. Finally, unable to carry on any further, he ordered his men to go on without him, after which he returned to the legation alone, telling his men 'carry on and not mind him', so as not to diminish the number of men engaged in the sortie. He walked 3 miles unaided to the hospital although his shoulder was half blown out and his left lung punctured.
His citation read:
He was promoted to brevet major for his part in the legation's defence.
Later service
Having recovered from his wound he returned to duty at the end of 1901. He commanded the Marine detachment aboard HMS GalateaHMS Galatea (1887)
HMS Galatea was an Orlando-class first-class cruiser built in Glasgow, and launched on 10 March 1887 and sold for scrapping on 5 April 1905.-References:...
, and then commanded the Marines aboard HMS Empress of India
HMS Empress of India (1891)
HMS Empress of India was a pre-dreadnought battleship of the Royal Navy and part of the eight-ship Royal Sovereign class. She was laid down at Pembroke Dockyard on 9 July 1889 and launched by the Duchess of Connaught on 7 May 1891. Initially known as HMS Renown, her name was changed before...
, the flagship of the home fleet. In 1907 having completed staff college at Camberley, he was appointed staff officer to the Portsmouth Division of his corps. He then commanded a company of Gentleman Officer Cadets at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst for four years during which time he was promoted to major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. Among his cadets was the future Field Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis
Earl Alexander of Tunis
Earl Alexander of Tunis is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 14 March 1952 for the prominent military commander Field Marshal Harold Alexander, 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis...
. In early 1915 he was promoted to brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
lieutenant-colonel and on 14 July of that year he was made lieutenant-colonel. In November 1915 he joined GHQ, Home Forces as General Staff Officer. 1920 he was appointed Colonel 2nd Commandant and on 1 January 1923 he became colonel commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
. 11 December 1925 he was promoted to major general
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
, to lieutenant-general on 11 June 1927 and to full general
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....
on 1 October 1928. He was ADC to King George V in 1924 and 1925, and was Adjutant General of the Royal Marines from 1 October 1927 to his voluntary retirement in 1930. Having been appointed as Companion of the Bath on 3 June 1913, he became Knight Commander of the Bath on 1 January 1930.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Marines MuseumRoyal Marines Museum
The Royal Marines Museum is located in Eastney , England, and is open to the public every day of the week throughout the year apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day...
in Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
, England
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...
.
External links
- Location of grave and VC medal (Surrey)