Henry John Andrews

He treated wounded soldiers under fire and died at his post.

Henry John Andrews was born in London in 1873 into a family associated with the Salvation Army. After his mother's early death, Bramwell and Emma Booth helped raise him. He first went to India in 1888 and subsequently trained as a medical dresser and pharmacist. Returning to India in 1893, he worked in Salvation Army medical missions, including Nagercoil and Anand.

He married Gena Smith in 1899 and continued developing his medical career. Further study in Chicago led to a medical qualification in 1910. In India he helped rebuild and manage the district hospital at Moradabad. During the First World War he entered the Indian Medical Service, receiving a commission in June 1917 and later serving as an acting captain. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1918.

In October 1919 he accompanied troops on the North-West Frontier during the aftermath of the Third Afghan War. Near Khajuri, a convoy was ambushed and suffered casualties. Andrews established medical assistance in an exposed position and continued collecting and treating the wounded despite the danger around him. He helped place casualties in a motor vehicle for evacuation and remained behind while the work continued.

He was killed while attempting to complete the evacuation. His conduct brought a posthumous Victoria Cross, recognising a doctor who continued his duty to the injured while personally exposed to enemy fire. King George V presented the decoration to his widow in November 1920. Andrews was buried at Bannu, leaving his wife and son. His career joined Salvation Army medical work with military medicine in India.

Official citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 22nd October 1919, when as Senior Medical Officer in charge of Khajuri Post ( Waziristan ) he heard that a convoy had been attacked in the vicinity of the post, and that men had been wounded. He at once took out an Aid Post to the scene of action and approaching under heavy fire, established an Aid Post under conditions which afforded some protection to the wounded but not to himself. Subsequently he was compelled to move his Aid Post to another position, and continued most devotedly to attend to the wounded. Finally when a Ford van was available to remove the wounded, he showed the utmost disregard of danger in collecting the wounded under fire and in placing them in the van, and was eventually killed whilst himself stepping into the van on the completion of his task.