PHIPPS-HORNBY, EDMUND JOHN,
Major, was born at Lordington, Emsworth, Hants, on 31 December 1857, the
second son of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Geoffrey Thomas Phipps-Hornby, GCB,
and Emily Frances, daughter of the Reverend Richard Cowper Coles, of
Ditcham, Petersfield, Hants. He was educated at a private school and at the
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and entered the Royal Artillery in May,
1878. He served in Sir Charles Warren's Bechuanaland Expedition in 1884 and
1885, in the 2nd Mounted Rifles, commanded by Colonel Carrington, and became
Captain in 1886. On 31 January 1895, at St Stephen's Church, Gloucester
Road, London. Captain Phipps-Hornby married Anna, eldest daughter of Mr and
Mrs Jay, of Blendon Hall, Bexley, Kent, and they had two daughters, Irene
and Betty. He was promoted to Major in 1895, served in the South African
War of 1899-1902, was mentioned in Despatches and given the Brevet of
Lieutenant Colonel on 30 November 1899; was ADC to Lord Roberts, 1901 to
1903, and won the Victoria Cross as described later in the Gazette.
Brigadier General Phipps-Hornby writes: "On the night of 30-31 March, 1900,
the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, with Q and U Batteries, RHA, retired from Tabanchu
on Bloemfontein, followed by a superior force of Boers. By 4 am the force
was across the Modder River at the Waterworks, inside its own line of
outposts. At daylight the heavy rifle-fire commenced and a few shells fell
short. Soon afterwards the shells came over our heads and fell among the
transport. The mules were at once inspanned, and each waggon moved off as
soon as it was ready along the road to Bloemfontein. The two RHA batteries
were ordered to cross the Korn Spruit and cover the retirement. When
nearing the drift it was noticed that all the transport was halted at the
drift and had spread out fan-like. U Battery was ordered to trot on. When
I got about 150 yards from the tail of the transport, a man ran out to me
and said, 'We are prisoners. The Boers are all round us'. I ordered
the battery to wheel about and gallop away. As it did so a heavy fire was
opened on it from the spruit and upset one gun and stopped another waggon.
After galloping back about half a mile I saw the Cavalry Brigade moving
towards us. I blew my whistle and brought the battery into action by the
tin huts of the railway station. The battery remained in action till
ordered out by General Broadwood, Commanding the Cavalry Brigade. There
were only myself, Captain Humphreys (wounded), and eight NCO's and men left
with the guns then. We had to man handle them back and get infantry to help
us". He was awarded the Victoria Cross [London Gazette, 26 June, 1900]:
"Edmund John Phipps-Hornby, Major, Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. Date
of Act of Bravery: 31 March, 1900. On the occasion of the action at
Korn Spruit on the 31st March, 1900, a British force, including two
batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, was retiring from Thabanchu, towards
Bloemfontein. The enemy had formed an ambush at Korn Spruit, and, before
their presence was discovered by the main body, had captured the greater
portion of the baggage column and five out of the six guns of the leading
battery. When the alarm was given, Q Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, was
within three hundred yards of the spruit. Major Phipps-Hornby, who
commanded it, at once wheeled about and moved off at a gallop under a very
heavy fire. One gun was upset when the wheel horse was shot, and had to be
abandoned with another waggon, the horses of which were killed. The
remainder of the battery reached a position close to some unfinished railway
buildings, and came into action 1,150 yards from the spruit, remaining in
action until ordered to retire. When the order to retire was received,
Major Phipps-Hornby ordered the guns and their limbers to be run back by
hand to where the teams of uninjured horses stood behind the unfinished
buildings. The few remaining gunners, assisted by a number of officers and
men of a party of mounted infantry, and directed by Major Phipps-Hornby and
Captain Humphreys, the only remaining officers of the battery, succeeded in
running back four of the guns under shelter. One or two of the limbers were
similarly withdrawn by hand, but the work was most severe and the distance
considerable. In consequence, all concerned were so exhausted that they
were unable to drag in the remaining limbers of the fifth gun. It now
became necessary to risk the horses, and volunteers were called for from
among the drivers, who readily responded. Several horses were killed and
men wounded, but at length only one gun and one limber were left exposed.
Four separate attempts were made to rescue these, but when no more horses
were available the attempt had to be given up and the gun and limber were
abandoned. Meanwhile the other guns had been sent on one at a time, and
after passing within seven or eight hundred yards of the enemy, in rounding
the head of a donga and crossing two spruits, they eventually reached a
place of safety, where the battery was reformed. After full consideration
of the circumstances of the case, the Field Marshal Commanding-in-chief in
South Africa formed the opinion that the conduct of all ranks of 'Q'
Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, was conspicuously gallant and daring, but
that all were equally brave and devoted in their behaviour. He therefore
decided to treat the case of the battery as one of collective gallantry,
under Rule 13 of the Victoria Cross Warrant, and directed that one officer
should be selected for the decoration of the Victoria Cross by the officers,
one non-commissioned officer by the non-commissioned officers, and two
gunners or drivers by the gunners and drivers. A difficulty arose with
regard to the officer, owing to the fact that there were only two
officers—Major Phipps-Hornby and Captain Humphreys —available for the work
of saving the guns, and both of these had been conspicuous by their
gallantry and by the fearless manner in which they exposed themselves, and
each of them nominated the other for the decoration. It was ultimately
decided in favour of Major Phipps-Hornby, as having been the senior
concerned. Charles Parker, Sergeant, was elected by the non-commissioned
officers, as described above. Isaac Lodge, Gunner, and Horace Harry Glasock,
Driver, were elected by the gunners and drivers as described above. From
1901 to 1903 Major Phipps-Hornby was ADC to Lord Roberts. For his services
in this campaign he was mentioned in Despatches, and received the Brevet of
Lieutenant Colonel. He became Lieutenant Colonel in 1903, and was given
command of the 4th RHA Brigade at Woolwich and Aldershot till 1903, when he
was promoted Colonel. In 1903 he was appointed Brigadier-General to command
the artillery of the 4th Division, and remained in command of it till 1913.
In 1911 he was created a CB. On the outbreak of the European War
Brigadier General Phipps-Hornby was appointed to the command of the
Artillery 3rd Corps, and went with it to France in August 1914, and
commanded the artillery of the Southern Army in England from April 1916, to
December 1918. He was mentioned in Despatches four times during the Great
War, and was created a CMG in 1916. Brigadier-General E J Phipps-Hornby
retired on 27 December 1918. He died on 13 December 1947 at Sonning,
Berkshire.
His VC is located in the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich.
