Henry Singleton Pennell

Henry Singleton Pennell VC (18 June 1874 – 19 January 1907) was an English 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.

He was born in 1874 in Dawlish, Devon to Edwin Francis Pennell and his wife Henrietta née Copeland and was educated Eastbourne College, Sussex where there is now a Pennell House.

Military career
Pennell attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst from 1892 to 1893 before joining The Derbyshire Regiment (later The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment)).

Pennell was 23 years old, and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Derbyshire Regiment, British Army during the Tirah Campaign, British India when the following deed took place on 20 October 1897 for which he was awarded the VC.

During the attack on the Dargai Heights, Tirah, British India, when a captain of The Derbyshire Regiment was struck down, Lieutenant Pennell ran to his assistance and made two attempts, under a hail of bullets, to carry and drag him back to cover. The lieutenant only gave up when he found that the wounded officer was dead.

He was also awarded the India Medal with 2 clasps.

During the Second Boer War he fought at the Siege of Ladysmith and at the Battle of Spion Kop. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with 2 clasps and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He later achieved the rank of Staff Captain at Southern Command.

He was accidentally killed on 19 January 1907 whilst toboganning on the Cresta Run at St Moritz, Switzerland. He is buried in Dawlish Parish Churchyard where there is a large MI to him and others of the family.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Sherwood Foresters Museum, Nottingham Castle.