Alfred Ernest Ind VC

b. 16/09/1872 Tetbury, Gloucestershire. d. 29/11/1916 Eccleston, Cheshire.

Alfred Ernest Ind (1872-1916) was the son of Mr George Ind, of Tetbury, Gloucestershire, where he was born on 16th September 1872. He enlisted with the Royal Field Artillery in 1891 at the age of 19, and became a shoeing-smith, with a troop of pom pom guns or light weight quick firing cannons. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, he was soon on route to South Africa.

Alfred E Ind VC

During the action near Tafelkop, Orange River Colony, on the 20th December 1901, Shoeing Smith Alfred Ernest Ind, 11th Section Pompoms, stuck to his gun under a very heavy fire, when the whole of the remainder of the pompom team had been shot down, and continued to fire into the advancing Boers till the last possible moment. Captain Jeffcoat, who was mortally wounded on this occasion, requested that Shoeing Smith Ind’s gallant conduct in this, and in every other action since he joined the Pompom Section should be brought to notice.

He was mentioned in Despatches and promoted Corporal after Tafelkop, and was once wounded and mentioned in Despatches on three other occasions. Corporal Shoeing Smith Ind was decorated with the Victoria Cross by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 20th November 1902.

He was later a member of the celebrated battery known as the ‘Chestnut Troop’. He died on 29th November 1916 at Eccleston, Cheshire, at the age of 44. He was buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin in Eccleston. His medals are privately held.

 

LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD. (LAST SOLD on 26/09/1986).

BURIAL PLACE: ST MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH, ECCLESTON, CHESHIRE.

Acknowledgement:

Martin Ind – Image of Alfred Ind’s Medal Group when last sold in 1986.