Frank William Baxter

He gave his horse to a wounded man and faced pursuit on foot

Frank William Baxter was born in England in December 1869 and went to southern Africa as a young man. During the uprising in Matabeleland in 1896, he served as a trooper in Grey’s Scouts, part of the Bulawayo Field Force. The small mounted force operated from Bulawayo while settlers and their opponents contested the surrounding country.

On 22 April 1896, Baxter was with a force sent toward the Umguza River. During its withdrawal, Corporal Wiseman was wounded and fell behind as a much larger enemy force pressed the retreat. Baxter dismounted and gave Wiseman his horse, accepting the danger of trying to escape on foot. His comrade reached safety, but Baxter was overtaken and killed. He was twenty-six.

At the time, the Victoria Cross was not routinely conferred posthumously. The London Gazette of 7 May 1897 therefore recorded that his action would have brought a recommendation had he survived. The decoration was eventually awarded after the policy on posthumous cases changed, and it was sent to his father in England in 1907.

Baxter had no later career: his service ended in the rescue that cost his life. He was buried at Bulawayo. His surviving Victoria Cross and British South Africa Company Medal preserve both the individual rescue and the campaign in which he served.

Official Victoria Cross citation

The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the Decoration of the Victoria Cross being delivered to the representatives of the undermentioned Officers and men who fell in the performance of acts of valour, and with reference to whom it was notified in the London Gazette that they would have been recommended to Her late Majesty for the Victoria Cross had they survived:–

“Trooper Frank William Baxter, of the Buluwayo Field Force, on account of his gallant conduct in having, on the 22nd April, 1896, dismounted and given up his horse to a wounded comrade, Corporal Wiseman, who was being closely pursued by an overwhelming force of the enemy, would have been recommended to Her Majesty for the Victoria Cross had he survived.”

The London Gazette of 15 January 1907, Numb. 27986, p. 325