John Hutton Bisdee (VC, OBE) (1869-1930) was an Australian 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.

Early life

John Hutton Bisdee was born on 28 September 1869 at Hutton Park, Melton Mowbray, Tasmania.

Military service

When Bisdee was 30 years old, and a Trooper in the Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen , Australian Imperial Force during the Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 1 September 1900 near Warm Baths, Transvaal, South Africa, Trooper Bisdee was one of an advance scouting party passing through a narrow gorge, when the enemy suddenly opened fire at close range and six out of the party of eight were wounded, including two officers. The horse of one of the wounded officers bolted and Trooper Bisdee dismounted, put him on his own horse and took him out of range of the very heavy fire.

Later life

He died on 14 January, 1930 and was burried in the St James Churchyard, Jericho, Tasmania. His Victoria Cross is on display at the Tasmanian Museum, Hobart.

Reference

• Monuments To Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.