Oswald Austin Reid

Oswald Austin Reid VC (2 November 1893 – 27 October 1920) was a South African 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.

Early life
He attended the Diocesan College in Cape Town and St John's College in Johannesburg before moving on to Radley College, where he became Senior Prefect and Captain of the Football and Cricket teams.

Details
He was 23 years old, and a Captain in the 1st Battalion, The King's (Liverpool) Regiment, British Army, attached 6th Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 8/10 March 1917 at Dialah River, Mesopotamia, Captain Reid consolidated a small post with the advanced troops on the opposite side of the river to the main body, after his lines of communication had been cut by the sinking of the pontoons. He maintained this position for 30 hours against constant attacks by bombs, machine-guns and rifle fire, with the full knowledge that repeated attempts at relief had failed and that his ammunition was all but exhausted. It was greatly due to his tenacity that the crossing of the river was effected the next night. During the operations he was wounded.

He is buried in Braamfontein Cemetery in Johannesburg.

Further information
He later achieved the rank of Major.

The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg.