'How Captain Congreve (Rifle Brigade) won his Victoria Cross', 1900 (c),

Cigarette card published by Morris and Sons Limited, from a set entitled, 'Boer War, 1900', celebrating recipients of the Victoria Cross of the Boer War (1899-1902), 1900 (c).

Sir Walter Norris Congreve carrying a wounded officer across his saddle as he gallops away from abandoned field guns.

Sir Walter Norris Congreve, serving with the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, 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's son William, serving with the Rifle Brigade at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. Sir Walter died on the island of Malta on 28 February 1927.

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.