1901, Vlakfontein
ENGLISH, WILLIAM JOHN, Lieutenant, was born 6 October 1882, and served in the ranks. He served with the Scottish Horse in South Africa in the Boer War of 1899 to 1902, and was promoted Lieutenant in 1901. He won the Victoria Cross, and also received the Queen's Medal with five clasps. His VC was gazetted 4 October 1901: "William John English, Lieutenant, 2nd Scottish Horse. This officer, with five men, was holding the right of the position at Vlakfontein, on the 3rd July, 1901, during an attack by the Boers. Two of his men were killed and two wounded, but the position was still held, largely owing to Lieutenant English's personal pluck. When the ammunition ran short he went over to the next party and obtained more; to do this he had to cross some fifteen yards of open ground under a heavy fire at a range of from twenty to thirty yards". He became Lieutenant Army Service Corps, 1907, and Captain in 1914.
