Major general Sir Christopher Teesdale vc kcmg cb

A small group of veterans in Bognor Regis; Dave Vickers, James Haden and Matt Cole and the VC Trust recently refurbished the grave of Major General Sir Christopher Charles Teesdale VC KCMG CB. The Service was attended by local dignitaries, RHQ RA, RAA, veterans and families in St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, South Bersted, near Bognor Regis. The day was even more commemorative; on the anniversary, 29th September 1855, Lieutenant Teesdale aged 22, won the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Kars.

Christopher Charles Teesdale was born on 1 June 1833 in Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, to Lieutenant General Henry George Teesdale of the Royal Artillery who was stationed there. He joined the Royal Artillery as a gentleman cadet on 29th April 1848. His first posting was to Corfu and he was promoted to Second Lieutenant on 22nd March 1853 and left Corfu in April 1853. Teesdale was 22 years old during the Crimean War when he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

On 29th September 1855 at Kars, Turkey, Lieutenant Teesdale volunteered to take command of the force engaged in the defence of the enemy and encouraged the garrison to make an attack so vigorous that the Russians were driven out. During the hottest part of the action he induced the Turkish artillerymen to return to their post from which they had been driven by enemy fire and after the final victorious charge he saved from the fury of the Turks a considerable number of the enemy wounded – an action gratefully acknowledged by the Russian staff. Teesdale was wounded at the Battle of Kars, taken prisoner to Russia until he was released in 1856. He was awarded the Legion d’Honneur and made an Honorary CB in the same year. He was decorated with the Victoria Cross by Queen Victoria at Windsor on 21st November 1857. He was appointed as Master of The Ceremonies and Extra Equerry to the Prince of Wales on 9th November 1858, positions he held until his death and was also appointed aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria on 1st October 1877. Promoted to Major General in March 1887, he was made Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the Queen’s Jubilee honours on 8th July 1887. He retired on 22nd March 1892.

He died on 1st December 1893 (aged 60) and is laid to rest in his family tomb at St Mary Magdalene Churchyard, South Bersted, near Bognor Regis.