William George Hawtry Bankes

Cornet William George Hawtry Bankes VC was an English officer in the British Army who served during the mid-19th century. He is best remembered for his conspicuous bravery, which earned him the prestigious Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy available to British and Commonwealth forces.

His Victoria Cross is publicly recognized and displayed at the Lord Ashcroft Gallery inside the Imperial War Museum in London. A copy of his Victoria Cross is also preserved and displayed alongside his portrait at his ancestral estate of Kingston Lacy in Dorset, England.

Bankes' legacy remains preserved through these museum displays, honoring his service and sacrifice as a British cavalry officer who performed exceptionally under fire.