Ferdinand Schiess

Christian Ferdinand Schiess
Detail from Alphonse de Neuville's 1880 "The Defense of Roarke's Drift" reputedly depicting Ferdinand Schiess.
Born	7 April 1856 Burgdorf, Switzerland
Died	14 December 1884 (aged 28) South Atlantic
Buried	Buried at sea
Allegiance	France  United Kingdom Colony of Natal
Service / branch	French Army British Army
Years of service	1870–1875/1876 (France) 1877–1879 (United Kingdom)
Rank	Corporal
Unit	Armée de l'Est 2nd/3rd Natal Native Contingent
Battles / wars	Franco-Prussian War 9th Xhosa War Anglo-Zulu War Battle of Rorke's Drift
Awards	Victoria Cross

Christian Ferdinand Schiess VC (7 April 1856 – 14 December 1884) was a Swiss 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. He died in poverty at just 28.