Beschreibung:

Henry Singleton Pennel VC Derbyshire & Sherwood Foresters (1874 - 1907) - An 1878 Pattern Home Service Officer's Blue Cloth Helmet, of dark blue Melton cloth, with brass trimmed peak, spike and quadrant, bearing a gilt eight pointed star plate, the topmost point displaced with Queen's crown, mounted with gilt laurel wreath, within this the silver 'stag' device of the regiment, on blue enamel ground, standard pattern rose side ornaments, with leather-backed chin chain, the inner with buff leather sweatband, lining and maker's mark 'Hawkes & Co. of Piccadilly London', complete with its original japanned tin carrying box, bearing plaque inscribed 'H S Pennell Foresters' 'During the attack on the Dargai Heights, Tirah, British India, when a captain of The Derbyshire Regiment was struck down, Lieutenant Pennell ran to his assistance and made two attempts, under a hail of bullets, to carry and drag him back to cover. The lieutenant only gave up when he found that the wounded officer was dead' Henry Singleton Pennell was born on the 18th June 1874 at 8 Barton Villas, Dawlish, Devon, into a well known local land owning family, Henry's father being described on his birth certificate as a Gentleman, Henry was the second son of Edwin Pennell and Henrietta (nee Copeland) of Dawlish, his elder brother being Charles Lewin, sisters Rebecca and Hilda-Mary, as was the custom at the time the eldest son went into the family business, the second son followed a career in the Army. After being educated locally in Dawlish, Henry, at the age of 13 in 1887, was sent to finish his education at Eastbourne College (Blackwater House), East Sussex. He remained with the college until 1892, after which he was accepted by the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, for officer training, being placed 26th in the list of 102 successful candidates. After passing out from Sandhurst Henry Pennell was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion, The Derbyshire Regiment (The Sherwood Foresters) as a 2nd Lieutenant on 21st October 1893 and so began his military career. Henry Pennell's career was tragically terminated in 1907 when he was accidentally killed whilst traversing the famous Cresta toboggan run at St Moritz, Switzerland, when on holiday with fellow officers of his regiment. The official submission made by Brigadier-General Hart, V.C., R.E., to the Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Division, Tirah Expeditionary Force, on 7 December 1897: ‘Sir, I have the honour to request you will forward, for the favourable consideration of the General Officer Commanding Tirah Expeditionary Force, the attached documents which I have collected regarding the gallant conduct of the following soldiers at the storming of Dargai on 20 October 1897: Captain W. E. G. Smith , 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (killed) Lieutenant H. S. Pennell, 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment No. 579 Colour-Sergeant J. Keeling, 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (severely wounded) No. 4755 Private George John Dunn 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (killed) No. 2732 Private Richard Ponberth, 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (mortally wounded) No. 1701 Private J. Anthony, 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (severly wounded) No. 3392 Private J. Spick, 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment (severely wounded) On the 20 October 1897, Captain W. E. G. Smith’s company of the 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Regiment, was ordered to attack the heights at Dargai. The 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles and 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment had already been unsuccessful in their attack, and were under cover blocking the way to the hundred yards of open space that had to be crossed. Captain Smith ordered his company to charge, and started forward before his men could get through the companies in front of them. Lieutenant Pennell, Colour-Sergeant Keeling, Privates Spick, Dunn and Ponberth, forced their way through the men in front, and followed the gallant leading of their Captain who fell dead after he had gone about sixty yards.