1900, Colenso
INKSON, EDGAR THOMAS, Lieutenant, was born 5 April, 1872, at Naini Tal, India, the son of Surgeon General J Inkson, Army Medical Service (Battle of Baltic, Indian Mutiny and Afghan Medals; died September 1898), and of Mrs Inkson, of Eastbourne. He was educated at Edinburgh Collegiate School, and received his medical education at University College Hospital, London. He was MRCS (England) and LRCP (London), and joined the Army in April 1899, as Surgeon on probation; was gazetted Surgeon Lieutenant 28 July, 899, just ten weeks before the Boer War of 1899-1902, and proceeded to South Africa, as Medical Officer in Charge of the 7th, 14th and 66th Batteries RFA in October 1899. He was present with these batteries at Colenso on 15 December 1899, when ten guns were lost. Shortly afterwards Surgeon Lieutenant Inkson was trans ferred as Medical Officer in Charge to the 27th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (Hart's Brigade), and served with this regiment at Vaalkrantz, Spion Kop, Pieter's Hill, and at the relief of Ladysmith. He rejoined the Artillery (28th, 78th and 66th Batteries) in April, 1900, when the brigade was with Hunter's Division at the battle of Roidam 5 May 1900, and then with Ian Hamilton's Column. He rejoined the Inniskilling Fusiliers in April, 1901, and was with this regiment for about a year, part of the time with Allenby's Column. He was mentioned in Despatches three times, received the Queen's Medal with five clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was awarded the Victoria Cross [London Gazette, 15 January 1901]: "Edgar Thomas Inkson, Lieutenant, Royal Army Medical Corps. On the 24th February 1900, Lieutenant Inkson carried 2nd Lieutenant Devenish (who was severely wounded and unable to walk) for three or four hundred yards, under a very heavy fire, to a place of safety. The ground over which Lieutenant Inkson had to move was much exposed, there being no cover available". In the European War Lieutenant Colonel Inkson commanded No 2 Field Ambulance, 1st Division, from January 1915 to November 1916, and was present with that unit in all the operations in which the division took part during the above period. He was mentioned in Despatches twice, awarded the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 1 January 1917]: "Edgar Thomas Inkson, Lieutenant Colonel, RAMC". He was promoted Lieutenant Colonel 1 March, 1915, and in January 1917, assumed command of No 1 General Hospital, which post he held till July, 1917, and in August 1917, he was given command of No 4 Stationary Hospital. He died 19 February 1947 at Chichester Hospital, West Sussex and was buried in Brookwood Cemetery.
His VC is in the Army Medical Services Museum.
