Frank William Baxter (
29 December 1869-
22 April 1896) was a
Rhodesian 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.
Details
Born on
December 29,
1869 in
Woolwich,
London, Baxter was 26 years old, and a
Trooper in the
Bulawayo Field Force during the
Matabeleland Rebellion, when, on
April 22,
1896 (
Matabeleland Rebellion), near
Umguza,
Mashonaland,
Rhodesia (now
Zimbabwe), Baxter gave up his horse to a wounded comrade who was lagging behind, with an enemy force in hot pursuit. Baxter then tried to escape on foot, hanging on to the
stirrup of another mounted scout of the
Bulawayo Field Force, until he was hit in the side by enemy fire. He let go of the stirrup and died moments later.
Baxter is buried at Bulawayo Town Cemetery, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Baxter's medal is not publicly held.