Alfred Edward Durrant

He carried a wounded comrade to safety through Boer gunfire.

Alfred Edward Durrant VC ISM was born in St James's, Westminster, London, on 4 November 1864. A soldier of the Rifle Brigade, he served in the Sudan before fighting in the Second Boer War. His campaign medals record service at Khartoum and in South Africa.

On 27 August 1900, Durrant was a private in the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, fighting at Bergendal. Acting Corporal Wellar had been wounded and became disoriented. Rising from the firing line, he began moving towards the enemy, exposing himself to further fire.

Durrant first pulled Wellar down and tried to keep him still. When that failed, he lifted the wounded man and carried him approximately 200 yards through heavy fire to shelter. Having brought his comrade to safety, Durrant immediately returned to his place in the line. The rescue earned him the Victoria Cross, announced in the London Gazette on 18 October 1901.

Durrant subsequently held the rank of lance-corporal. His honours also included the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and, later, the Imperial Service Medal. The latter recognised his long civilian service.

He died in Tottenham on 29 March 1933, aged 68, and was buried in Tottenham Cemetery. His medals are held by the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum in Winchester.

Official Victoria Cross citation (London Gazette, 18 October 1901, page 6779):

At Bergendal, on the 27th August, 1900, Acting-Corporal Wellar having been wounded, and being somewhat dazed, got up from his prone position in the firing line, exposing himself still more to the enemy’s fire, and commenced to run towards them. Private Durrant rose, and pulling him down endeavoured to keep him quiet, but finding this impossible he took him up and carried him back for 200 yards under a heavy fire to shelter, returning immediately to his place in the line.