Zulu battle VC hero ‘should get memorial’
CALLS have been made for a Birmingham memorial to a hero of the Zulu War after a road was named after him in a neighbouring city.
Wassall Lane, named after Samuel Wassall VC, has been unveiled in Lichfield, home to the South Staffordshire Regiment.
It is one of six locations on developer Orbit’s new Saxon Gate estate bearing the name of Victoria Cross recipients from the regiment.
Wassall, who earned Britain’s highest military honour for heroics during the 1879 Isandlwana massacre, died in his adopted hometown of Barrow-in-Furness in 1927. He was 70.
His descendants were present at the ceremony where Orbit boss Andrew McDermott unveiled a plaque.
He said: “As a supporter of the Armed Forces Covenant, Orbit is privileged to pay its respects to these six Victoria Cross recipients. This is a long-lasting tribute to those soldiers who fought for their country on behalf of the local regiment.
“We are honoured to commemorate these brave men in this way, and to have their names live on and be associated with the new community we have built in Lichfield.”
Wassall is believed to have been born in Alcester Street, Aston, on July 28, 1856, the son of a wire-maker.
He worked as a apprentice dyer before joining the 80th Regiment (Staffordshire Volunteers), later the South Staffs Regiment, in 1874.
His VC was earned during one of the darkest days in British military history.
In the heat of battle, the earth littered with men skewered and mutilated by Zulu assegai, Private Samuel Wassall spotted an injured comrade sinking beneath the murky waters of Buffalo River.
The Battle of Isandlwana – the bleakest chapter in British military history – was already lost. On that day, January 22, 1879, the unthinkable had happened. Zulus had slaughtered 1,300 troops.
Pte Wassall, just 22, was fleeing the carnage, portrayed in the film Zulu Dawn, when he spotted his comrade being swept downstream.
Although tribesmen were close behind, Pte Wassall got off his horse, swam out and rescued the injured soldier.
They made it back to the bank and Pte Wassall managed to coax his horse across the fast-flowing river, dragging his colleague by the arm.
Last week’s ceremony was welcomed by those members of the Wassall family who were present. But they still want a lasting memorial in the city of his birth, Birmingham.
“The VC winners of the 1800s have been forgotten,” said 66-year-old Teresa Lucas, from Brownhills, Samuel’s great-great niece.
“Samuel Wassall has been forgotten and that’s a great shame. He was a very brave man. It would be fantastic to have some kind of memorial to him, such as a statue.”
Marie Lloyd, from Welshpool and also a great-great niece, said: “We were once told he was going to get a plaque, but nothing came of it.
“He deserves it. Can you imagine being chased by 1,000 Zulus?
“Great Sam, they called him. He was a very quiet man and great friends with Henry Hook, who got his VC at Rorke’s Drift. They used to meet up.”