'Lieut.-Gen. Sir Walter Congreve', 1917

Colour photolithograph after Francis Dodd, 1917.

Portrait of Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Norris Congreve VC (1862-1927).

As a captain with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, Walter Norris Congreve was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Colenso on 15 December 1899.

Captain Congreve was among a number of officers and men who attempted to save the guns of 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery at Colenso. He also attempted to save his fellow officer, Lieutenant Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts. Congreve's Victoria Cross citation records that 'Being wounded, he took shelter; but, seeing Lieutenant Roberts fall, badly wounded, he went out again and brought him in. Captain Congreve was shot through the leg, through the toe of his boot, grazed on the elbow and the shoulder, and his horse shot in three places. Congreve was awarded the gallantry medal by General Sir Redvers Buller at Ladysmith on 18 March 1900.

Congreve became a staff officer with 3rd Army Corps in Ireland and served as Assistant Military Secretary and Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Connaught.

At the time of this portrait Congreve was a corps commander in World War One (1914-1918). Congreve's son, William, served with the Rifle Brigade on the Somme in 1916, and was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. Sir Walter died on Malta on 28 February 1927, having served as governor of the island from 1924.