Edmund Costello

Under fierce fire, he brought a wounded soldier back safely.

Edmund William Costello VC CMG CVO DSO rescued a wounded Indian soldier during the defence of Malakand on 26 July 1897. A lieutenant serving with the 22nd Punjab Infantry, he crossed exposed ground with two sepoys while heavy fire swept the area and attackers moved among the defenders.

Born on the Indian frontier on 7 August 1873, Costello was educated at Beaumont, Stonyhurst and Sandhurst. He entered the West Yorkshire Regiment in 1892 and transferred to the Indian Army in 1894. During the Malakand fighting, the casualty lay about sixty yards outside the hospital enclosure. Costello and his companions brought him in despite the danger. Queen Victoria presented his VC at Windsor that December.

His later career extended well beyond this early action. He served in the Mohmand operations of 1908, became a major and attended the staff college at Quetta. During the First World War he fought and held staff appointments in Mesopotamia, receiving the DSO, CMG and repeated mentions in despatches. He subsequently commanded an Indian brigade and helped lead the Indian contingent at the postwar peace celebrations in London, receiving the CVO.

After further commands in India and Palestine, Costello retired in 1923 with honorary brigadier-general rank. He directed military studies at Cambridge and later settled in Eastbourne, where he undertook wartime civil-defence and Home Guard duties. He died on 7 June 1949 and was buried at Hadlow Down, Sussex. His substantial medal group is preserved by the National Army Museum.

[Biographical and award record](https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/1273/Edmond-William-COSTELLO)