'Fighting Bill', Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford VC, 1879

Chromolithograph after Sir Leslie Matthew Ward ('Spy') (1851-1922), printed by Vincent Brooks, Day and Son Limited, published by 'Vanity Fair', 27 September 1879.

Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford served as a captain in the 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers during the Zulu War of 1879. On 3 July 1879, the day before the overwhelming defeat of the Zulus at Ulundi, Beresford took part in a mounted reconnaissance of the approach to King Cetshwayo's capital. Hidden Zulu riflemen surprised the scouting patrol and forced them to retire. Beresford with the help of Sergeant Edmund O'Toole of the Frontier Light Horse saved a fallen soldier from the pursuing Zulus. Beresford was recommended for the Victoria Cross for his gallantry. On 24 August 1879 he received the medal from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on condition that Sergeant O'Toole be similarly rewarded.