Isaac Lodge

He helped pull the guns to safety through concentrated fire.

Isaac Lodge was born at Great Canfield, Essex, on 6 May 1866. After leaving school at eleven he worked on a dairy farm, in other jobs and as a gamekeeper. He enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery in December 1888 and transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery early the following year. Service in India preceded his posting with Q Battery to South Africa.

On 31 March 1900, British troops withdrawing toward Bloemfontein were ambushed at Korn Spruit, also known as Sanna's Post. Q Battery came under heavy fire close to the stream. Its surviving guns took up a new position and continued firing until ordered to retire, but many horses had been killed or wounded.

Lodge helped the depleted gun crews drag their pieces and limbers by hand toward the remaining teams under shelter. The work required repeated exposure, great physical effort and cooperation with the drivers and mounted infantry. Most of the battery's guns were recovered despite continuing losses.

Because the whole battery had shown conspicuous gallantry, Lord Roberts directed that officers and soldiers elect representatives for the Victoria Cross under the warrant's collective-gallantry provision. Lodge was chosen as a gunner alongside Major Phipps-Hornby, Sergeant Parker and Driver Glasock. Roberts presented the Cross at Pretoria in October 1900.

Lodge remained in the Army, became a corporal in 1903 and received the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1907. His discharge followed in December 1909. He returned to gamekeeping and later worked in the Royal Parks. He died in London on 18 June 1923 and was buried at Hendon. His four-medal group subsequently entered the National Army Museum.

Official Victoria Cross citation

On the occasion of the action at Korn Spruit on the 31st March, 1900, a British force, including two batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, was retiring from Thabanchu towards Bloemfontein. The enemy had formed an ambush at Korn Spruit, and before their presence was discovered by the main body had captured the greater portion of the baggage column and five out of the six guns of the leading battery.

When the alarm was given Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, was within 300 yards of the Spruit. Major Phipps-Hornby, who commanded it, at once wheeled about and moved off at a gallop under a very heavy fire. One gun upset when a wheel horse was shot, and had to be abandoned, together with a waggon, the horses of which were killed. The remainder of the battery reached a position close to some unfinished railway buildings and came into action 1,150 yards from the Spruit, remaining in action until ordered to retire. When the order to retire was received Major Phipps-Hornby ordered the guns and their limbers to be run back by hand to where the teams of uninjured horses stood behind the unfinished buildings. The few remaining gunners, assisted by a number of Officers and men of a party of Mounted Infantry, and directed by Major Phipps-Hornby and Captain Humphreys, the only remaining Officers of the battery, succeeded in running back four of the guns under shelter. One or two of the limbers were similarly withdrawn by hand, but the work was most severe and the distance considerable. In consequence all concerned were so exhausted that they were unable to drag in the remaining limbers or the fifth gun. It now became necessary to risk the horses, and volunteers were called for from among the drivers, who readily responded. Several horses were killed and men wounded, but at length only one gun and one limber were left exposed. Four separate attempts were made to rescue these, but when no more horses were available the attempt had to be given up and the gun and limber were abandoned. Meanwhile the other guns had been sent on, one at a time, and after passing within 700 or 800 yards of the enemy, in rounding the head of a donga and crossing two spruits they eventually reached a place of safety, where the battery was re-formed.

After full consideration of the circumstances of the case the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-chief in South Africa formed the opinion that the conduct of all ranks of Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, was conspicuously gallant and daring, but that all were equally brave and devoted in their behaviour. He therefore decided to treat the case of the battery as one of collective gallantry under Rule 13 of the Victoria Cross Warrant, and directed that one Officer should be selected for the decoration of the Victoria Cross by the Officers, one non-commissioned officer by the non-commissioned officers, and two gunners or drivers by the gunners and drivers. A difficulty arose with regard to the Officer, owing to the fact that there were only two unwounded Officers—Major Phipps-Hornby and Captain Humphreys—available for the work of saving the guns, and both of these had been conspicuous by their gallantry and by the fearless manner in which they exposed themselves, and each of them nominated the other for the decoration. It was ultimately decided in favour of Major Phipps-Hornby as having been the senior concerned.

Gunner Isaac Lodge and Driver Henry Glassock: Were elected by the gunners and drivers, as described above.