Francis Newton Parsons

Under fire, he fetched water and carried a wounded man away.

Francis Newton Parsons was born at Dover on 23 March 1875, the son of a doctor. He attended King's College School, Cambridge, Dover College and Sandhurst before receiving a commission in the Essex Regiment in February 1896. Promoted to lieutenant in 1898, he went to South Africa with the 1st Battalion during the Second Boer War.

At Paardeberg on 18 February 1900, Private Ferguson was wounded in open ground near the Modder River. A second bullet struck him as he tried to crawl to cover. Parsons went to him under heavy fire, dressed the wound and twice descended to the river to fetch water. He then carried Ferguson to safety.

Lieutenant-General Kelly-Kenny recommended him for the Victoria Cross. Before the award was announced, Parsons was mortally wounded at Driefontein in March 1900, where his gallantry was again noticed. He did not live to receive his decoration.

His Victoria Cross was gazetted on 20 November 1900 and sent to his family. His Queen's South Africa Medal records service at the Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg and Driefontein. His family later gave his medals to the Essex regimental collection.

Official Victoria Cross citation

On the morning of the 18th February, 1900, at Paardeberg, on the south bank of the River Modder, Private Ferguson, 1st Battalion Essex Regiment, was wounded and fell in a place devoid of cover. While trying to crawl under cover, he was again wounded, in the stomach, Lieutenant Parsons at once went to his assistance, dressed his wound under heavy fire, went down twice (still under heavy fire) to the bank of the river to get water for Private Ferguson, and subsequently carried him to a place of safety. This Officer was recommended for the Victoria Cross by Lieutenant-General Kelly-Kenny, C.B., on 3rd March last. Lieutenant Parsons was killed on the 10th March, in the engagement at Dreifontein, on which occasion he again displayed conspicuous gallantry.

The London Gazette of 20 November 1900, Numb. 27248, p. 7136