William Faulds

William Frederick Faulds (1895 – 1950) was a South African soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award of the British Commonwealth, for gallantry "in the face of the enemy", during the First World War. He was the first South African-born man serving with South African Forces to be awarded the VC.

Faulds was born 19 February 1895. When he was 21 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion (Cape) of the South African Infantry Brigade during the First World War, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 18 July 1916 at Delville Wood, France.

The citation reads as follows: ""A bombing party under Lieut Craig attempted to rush over 40 yd of ground which lay between the British and enemy trenches. Coming under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire the officer and the majority of the party were killed and wounded. Unable to move, Lieut Craig lay midway between the two lines of trench, the ground being quite open. In full daylight, Pte Faulds, accompanied by two other men, climbed over the parapet, ran out, picked up the officer, and carried him back... Two days later Private Faulds again showed most conspicuous bravery in going out alone to bring in a wounded man, and carried him nearly half a mile to a dressing-station... The artillery fire was at the time so intense that stretcher-bearers and others considered that any attempt to bring in the wounded man meant certain death...""

As a temporary Lieutenant, Faulds was also awarded the Military Cross for actions at Hedicourton 22 March 1918. This citaiton, for the Military Cross reads: "In the retirement from the line east of Hendicourt, 22 March 1918, he was commanding one of the platoons which formed the rear-guard. He handled his men most ably, and exposed himself freely. Though the enemy pressed hard, he, by his fearless and able leadership, checked them, and enabled the remainder of the battalion to withdraw with slight loss."

He later achieved the rank of captain. He died 16 February 1950 and was buried in Pioneer Cemetery, Harare.

The Medal
His Victoria Cross was displayed at the National Museum of Military History in Johannesburg. This Victoria Cross was stolen off a display in 1994 and is still missing.