12 AUGUST 2000, Page 24

Swiss VC

From Mr H. G. Keown-Boyd Sir: The Dane, Major Anders Lassen, was not the only foreigner to win the Victoria Cross (High life, 22 July). Another was the rather unfortunately named Corporal Ferd- nand Schiess of the Natal Native Contingent; a Swiss, who was awarded one of 11 VCs after the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879. Henry Keown-Boyd

Thornbury, Herefordshire