Percival Scrope Marling VC

Name: Percival Scrope Marling

Conflict: First Sudan Campaign

Gazetted: May 21, 1884

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: King’s Stanley, Stroud, Gloucestershire/March 6, 1861

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (later Colonel and Sir)

Date of bravery: March 13, 1884

London Gazette citation:

3^rd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, late Mounted Infantry. Lieutenant Percival Scrope Marling.

For his conspicuous bravery at the Battle of Tamai, on 13^th March last, in risking his life to save that of Private Morley, Royal Sussex Regiment, who, having been shot, was lifted and placed in front of Lieutenant Marling on his horse. He fell off almost immediately, when Lieutenant Marling dismounted, and gave up his horse for the purpose of carrying off Private Morley, the enemy pressing close on to them until they succeeded in carrying him about 80 yards to a place of comparative safety.

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Other decorations: CB

Place/date of death: Stroud, Gloucestershire/May 29, 1936

Grave/memorials: Stanley Park, Stroud, Gloucestershire; Great Rissington Church, Gloucestershire; Stroud Hospital, Gloucestershire; Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased at auction, Spink, London, 1994

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