Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn
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Major Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn VC |
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|---|---|
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| Born |
19 November 1867 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | 12 July 1913 (aged 45) Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Buried at | St James Cemetery, Toronto |
| Allegiance |
 Canada
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| Service/branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1897–1913 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | The Royal Canadian Dragoons |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Major Hampden Zane Churchill Cockburn VC (19 November 1867 – 12 July 1913) was a Canadian soldier, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Cockburn was a graduate of Upper Canada College in Toronto.
When the Second Boer War broke out in 1899, Cockburn was a 32-year-old lieutenant in The Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Army, and was posted to South Africa with his regiment, where the action took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 7 November 1900, during the Battle of Leliefontein near the Komati River, a large force of Boer commandos sought to encircle a retreating British column whose rearguard comprised two troops of Royal Canadian Dragoons and two 12-pounder guns of “D” Battery, Royal Canadian Field Artillery. Cockburn and Lieutenant Richard Turner commanded a small group of troopers who repulsed the Boers at close range, allowing the two field guns to escape capture. Sergeant Edward Holland of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, ably assisted them with good machine-gun work, finally fleeing in the face of superior Boer force with the machine gun under his arm to avoid its capture. All of the men under Cockburn's command were either killed, wounded or captured. Cockburn was also wounded during the action.
Following the battle, three men of the Royal Canadian Dragoons were awarded the Victoria Cross - Cockburn, Turner and Sergeant Edward Holland.)
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