This posthumous honour was finally awarded to him by King Edward VII., as is recorded in the London Gazette of 15 January 1907, and his Victoria Cross was given to the elder of his two surviving brothers, Mr Edwin de Lisle F.S.A. in 1907, exactly fifty years after his death. In the charming memoir of his brother, Lieut. Rudolf de Lisle, RN (written by the late Rev. Henry Nutcombe Oxenham M.A., who was killed at the Battle of Abu Klea, serving in the Naval Brigade, in the heroic attempt to relieve General Gordon and Khartoum, reference is made to Everard's many gallant deeds, for the two brothers were much alike in their martial characteristics, as well as for the domestic qualities which endeared them, not only to their own families and friends, but also all who came in contact with them. Lord Beresford said of Rudolph; "A finer officer never stepped on board one of Her Majesty's ships," and the same might have been said of Everard, mutatis mutandis. Everard's untimely but glorious death made a great sensation in Leicestershire, and a fine Gothic tower of rough hewn granite was built to perpetuate his memory on top of one of the rocks in High Cadman Wood in Charnwood Forest, overlooking Grace-Dieu and the villages of Whitwick and Coalville, and can be seen from miles around. Few soldiers in England have such a fine and enduring monument. There is also a handsome brass to his memory in the beautiful chapel at Oscott College. A very appreciative article was published in the French "Correspondent" soon after his death. He was known in Paris, together with his brother Ambrose, as friends of the celebrated Count de Montalembert, religious writer and politician, and they used to attend the brilliant parties given by the Emperor Napoleon III, and Empress Eugenie, when their Court at the Tuileries was the centre of European gallantry and fashion. But it was as a young man of energy and sterling character that he was esteemed the most. Mr Edwin de Lisle (who supplies much of the material for this short biography) says of his gallant brother that he was "a very keen sportsman and cricketer, a most affable and sympathetic friend, very energetic in all that he undertook, and a devout and sincere Roman Catholic Christian." Everard's picture, standing by his favourite charger, King David, which he left to his friend Hugh Gough (afterwards General Sir Hugh Gough, VC, GCB) was painted for the first Victoria Cross Exhibition by Des Anges, and now hangs in the dining room at Garendon over the Gothic chimney-piece.

Commemoration: Brass plaque in Oscott College Chapel, Sutton Coldfield. Granite Tower in Charnwood Forest.

Back to Victoria Crosses Of The Regiment

Latest News

Always a Rifleman Project

 

Read more ...

Events

Read more ...