On Saturday 23rd November, the Museum had the pleasure of attending the unveiling ceremony for Datchet’s first blue plaque, honouring the gallantry of Sgt. Henry Engleheart V.C. of the 10th Royal Hussars.
As you may know, Engleheart received the Victoria Cross for bravery during the Second Boer War. In March 1900, near Bloemfontein, he saved a comrade after his horse failed to scale an embankment, leaving him vulnerable to heavy rifle and shell fire.
Engleheart was discharged from the army in 1908, becoming the Lodge Keeper at the South-Western Lodge of Windsor castle by 1911. After 25 years of service, Engleheart retired from his position as Lodge Keeper in October 1933, moving then to Fairlight in Datchet.
Throughout his retirement he was greatly interested in local ex-servicemen’s organisations. In 1933 he was appointed as vice-chairman of the Windsor Ex-Servicemen’s Club, and was elected chairman in 1937, holding the position until his death in 1939. Engleheart also participated in the annual show of the Berks, Bucks, and Oxon Canine Association, held in the Home Park, Datchet.
Due to these extensive local connections, alongside the increasing importance of highlighting local history, Alison Crampin, Derek Hunt (local historian), and the Datchet Village Society put in much effort to petition a plaque commemorating Sergeant Henry Engleheart, which will be placed on his retirement home of Fairlight.
The Museum was most delighted to be invited to participate in the unveiling ceremony. Here, we held a small exhibition on the role of the 10th Royal Hussars in the Second Boer War, accompanied by a few items from our collection. This included a porthole window from the S.S. Ismore (the ship that transported the 10th to South Africa, sinking a short distance from the coast at Cape Town), a chocolate box sent by Queen Victoria to the men serving in South Africa (complete with 124-year-old chocolate!), and Engleheart’s medals.
We are also grateful to Captain Freddie English, currently serving with The King’s Royal Hussars, for attending the ceremony, in which he had the honour of reading the 1900 citation for Engleheart’s Victoria Cross, as well as being the one to unveil the plaque!
