William Martin Cafe


General William Martin Cafe VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Victoria Cross details

Cafe was 32 years old, and a captain in the 56th Bengal Native Infantry, Indian Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 15 April 1858, during the attack on Fort Ruhya, India, Captain Cafe, with other volunteers carried away the body of a lieutenant of the 14th Punjab Rifles from the top of the glacis in a most exposed position under very heavy fire. He then went to the rescue of one of the privates who had been severely wounded.
His citation in the London Gazette reads:
His Victoria Cross is held by the National Army Museum at Chelsea, London.

Later career

He later achieved the rank of General. Cafe is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London, with his wife Isabella Mary.

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