INKSON, Edgar Thomas (1872-1947); Colenso, South Africa, 24 February 1900 Plot 74

Colonel Edgar Thomas Inkson was born at Naini Tal, India. He was educated at the Edinburgh Collegiate School and at the University College London.

He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant in 1899 and served in South Africa (1899-1904).  He was a regimental medical officer with three batteries of Royal Field Artillery.

On 24 February 1900 Inkson was present at the battle of Colenso where he was awarded his VC.  This was for his bravery in carrying 2nd Lieutenant Devenish, who was severely wounded and unable to walk, for three or four hundred yards under very heavy fire, to a place of safety.  The ground over which Inkson had to move was very exposed.

With the 27th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Inkson also saw action at Vaalrantz, Spion Kop, Pieter’s Hill, the Relief of Ladysmith, and the battle of Roydam.

He served also during the First World War (DSO 1917) and retired in 1926.

The memorial was one of several at Brookwood Cemetery cleaned by the Victoria Cross Trust in 2015.