'Major W. Babtie, V.C.', 1902

Cigarette card published by Taddy and Company, Number 59 from the series, 'V.C. Heroes - Boer War', a set of 125 cards, 1902.

Portrait of Major William Babtie wearing his Victoria Cross, after a photograph by Wyrall and Company, Aldershot.

A caption below records, 'Major W. Babtie V.C. Of the Royal Army Medical Corps was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at Battle of Colenso. Under heavy fire he attended to many wounded soldiers'.

Major (later Surgeon General) William Babtie (1859-1920) of the Royal Army Medical Corps won his Victoria Cross at the Battle of Colenso on the 15 December 1899. Under fire, Babtie came to the aid of wounded gunners of the Royal Field Artillery. He was wounded three times during the action. Babtie also assisted Captain (later General) Walter Congreve (1862-1927) of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own), in bringing in another wounded officer, Lieutenant Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts of the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Roberts, who died of his wounds, and Congreve also received the Victoria Cross for their actions at Colenso.

Major Babtie was presented with his Victoria Cross by Field Marshal Frederick Roberts, himself a VC recipient, but more poignantly, the father of Lieutenant Roberts, at Pretoria on 25 October 1900.

Cigarette cards were produced from the mid 1870s until the end of World War Two (1939-1945). Used to strengthen thin cigarette packs the cards were quickly developed into advertising devices. Series of cards covering every conceivable subject, from sportsmen to flora and fauna, were produced to encourage collectors and potential smokers alike.

From a collection of 14 cigarette cards.