Henry John Andrews VC

Name: Henry John Andrews

Conflict: Waziristan Campaign

Gazetted: September 9, 1920

Service: Indian Medical Service

Place/date of birth: London/March 23, 1871

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Temporary Captain

Date of bravery: October 22, 1919

London Gazette citation:

The late Temporary Captain Henry John Andrews, M.B.E., Indian Medical Service.

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 whist himself stepping into the van on the completion of his task.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: MBE

Place/date of death: Khajuri Post, Waziristan, north-west India (now Pakistan)/October 22, 1919

Grave/memorials: Bannu Cemetery, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan/Delhi Memorial, India

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2008

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum