Major Christopher Teesdale, V.C.
(1833-1893)
20 March 1861

Volume 2, page 333, sitting number 2623.

Christopher Charles Teesdale was born on 1 June 1833 in Grahamstown, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. His father was Lieutenant-General Henry George Teesdale of the Royal Artillery.

On 29 April 1848 he joined the Royal Artillery as a gentleman cadet. His first posting was to Corfu. On 22 March 1853 he was promoted to second lieutenant.

He was wounded at the Battle of Kars in Turkey during the Crimean War, taken prisoner and held in Russia until his release the following year. He subsequently received the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in the face of the enemy during the battle, becoming the first South African-born recipient of the award.  

'Kit' Teesdale was appointed an Equerry to the Prince of Wales on 9 November 1858; he was also appointed a supernumerary aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1877, with the rank of Colonel. Promoted to Major-General in March 1887, he was created a Knight Commander of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in the Queen's Jubilee honours on 8 July 1887. In 1890 he was appointed the Queen’s Master of the Ceremonies.

Sir Christopher Charles Teesdale died at Bognor on 1 December 1893 and was buried at South Bersted in Sussex. He left an estate valued at £15,141.