William John House

He went into heavy fire to carry his wounded sergeant clear.

William John House was born at Thatcham, Berkshire, on 7 October 1879 and enlisted in the Royal Berkshire Regiment in 1896. He went with his battalion to South Africa during the Second Boer War.

At Mosilikatse Nek on 2 August 1900, a sergeant was wounded while reconnoitring. Despite warnings about the intense fire, House left cover and attempted to carry him to safety. Severely wounded himself, he warned his comrades not to risk following him into the exposed ground. His courage and concern for others earned the Victoria Cross, presented in October 1902.

After recovering, he continued military service. He briefly left for the reserve in 1904 but rejoined, became a lance-corporal and served in India. He later transferred to the 1st Battalion at Dover. On 28 February 1912 he died from a gunshot wound at the Grand Shaft Barracks and was buried in St James' Cemetery. He was thirty-two.

Official Victoria Cross citation

During the attack on Mosilikatse Nek, on 2nd August, 1900, when a Sergeant, who had gone forward to reconnoitre, was wounded, Private House rushed out from cover(though cautioned not the second boer war • 541 The Victoria Cross George Cross pages 04/10/2013 10:41 Page 541 do so, as the fire from the enemy was very hot), picked up the wounded Sergeant, and endeavoured to bring him into shelter, in doing which Private House was himself severely wounded. He, however, warned his comrades not to come to his assistance, the fire being so severe. The grant of the Medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field to Private House, which was notified in the London Gazette of 27th September, 1901, is hereby cancelled.

(The London Gazette of 7 October 1902, Numb. 27480, p. 6341)