James Pitts

James Pitts VC MSM (26 February 1877 – 18 February 1955) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

For the Massachusetts merchant and an early American Patriot, see James Pitts (1712–1776). For the American chemist, see James Pitts (chemist).
James Pitts
Born26 February 1877
Blackburn, Lancashire
Died18 February 1955 (aged 77)
Blackburn
Buried
Whalley New Road Cemetery, Blackburn
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankCorporal
UnitThe Manchester Regiment
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
Awards Victoria Cross
Meritorious Service Medal

Details

Pitts was 22 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Manchester Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deed in Natal took place for which he and Private Robert Scott were awarded the VC:

During the attack on Caesar's Camp, in Natal, on the 6th January, 1900, these two men occupied a sangar, on the left of which all our men had been shoe down and their positions occupied by Boers, and held their post for fifteen hours without food or water, all the time under an extremely heavy fire, keeping up their fire and a smart look-out though the Boers occupied some sangars on their immediate left rear. Private Scott was wounded.[1]

He later achieved the rank of corporal and served in World War I[2] He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 1918.[3]

The Medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Museum of the Manchesters, Ashton-under-Lyne, England.

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References
  1. "No. 27338". The London Gazette. 26 July 1901. p. 4949.
  2. "James Pitts VC". Cotton Town - Blackburn with Darwen. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
  3. "No. 30750". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 July 1901. p. 7162.
  • The Four Blackburn VC's (HL Kirby and RR Walsh)
  • Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
  • The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
  • Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
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