3-086-265 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Queen at Netley Hospital: Her Majesty conferring the Victoria Cross..., 1898. '...on Piper Findlater [left] and Private Vickery [2nd left]. 'Arrived at the hospital her Majesty took her seat in her wheeled chair and proceeded to the inspection of the wards...Her Majesty ascended by lift to the surgical wards, in her tour of which she was attended by Surgeon-Major Dick. Convalescent patients were paraded in the corridor, those unable to be out of bed being assembled in special wards. The Queen spoke to several of the men, asking particularly how they got wounded and expressing kind hopes for their recovery. With any who had lost a limb her Majesty did not miss exchanging a word. The interest of the visit culminated when the Queen came up to Private Vickery, of the Dorsets, and Piper Findlater, of the Gordons, whom she decorated with the Victoria Cross. Both heroes were seated in chairs. "I can rise, your Majesty," said the gallant Gordon, but his Sovereign forbade him. "Oh, no," said the Queen, "I will rise," and so doing, she pinned the decoration to his breast. As her Majesty left the corridor, Findlater played the "Haughs of Cromdale," with which he had heartened the Gordons at Dargai [during the Tirah Campaign in northwestern India].' From "Illustrated London News", 1898.