▁ 1 8 5 0 ▁– ▁ 1 8 8 1 ) ▁was ▁a ▁New ▁Zealand - born ▁recip ient ▁of ▁the ▁Victoria ▁Cross , ▁the ▁highest ▁and ▁most ▁pr estig ious ▁award ▁for ▁gall antry ▁in ▁the ▁face ▁of ▁the ▁enemy ▁that ▁can ▁be ▁awarded ▁to ▁British ▁and ▁Commonwealth ▁forces . ▁He ▁won ▁the ▁V C ▁on ▁ 3 ▁July ▁ 1 8 7 9 ▁at ▁Ul und i ▁in ▁South ▁Africa ▁during ▁the ▁Ang lo - Z ulu ▁War ▁when ▁he ▁was ▁ 2 8 ▁years ▁old , ▁and ▁a ▁captain ▁in ▁the ▁Front ier ▁Light ▁Hor se . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁D ' Ar cy ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Wang an ui , ▁New ▁Zealand , ▁where ▁his ▁father ▁Major ▁Oliver ▁B ark er ▁D ' Ar cy ▁( s ometimes ▁D ' Ar ce y ) ▁of ▁the ▁ 6 5 th ▁Regiment ▁was ▁in ▁the ▁British ▁g arrison . ▁In ▁ 1 8 6 0 , ▁Oliver ▁D ' Ar cy ▁transferred ▁to ▁the ▁Cape ▁Mount ed ▁R if le men ▁and ▁settled ▁with ▁his ▁family ▁at ▁King ▁William ' s ▁Town ▁in ▁the ▁Cape ▁Col ony . ▁ ▁Ang lo - Z ulu ▁War ▁ ▁During ▁the ▁Ang lo - Z ulu ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 8 7 9 , ▁Cec il ▁D ' Ar cy ▁was ▁an ▁officer ▁in ▁the ▁Front ier ▁Light ▁Hor se , ▁a ▁mounted ▁unit ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 ▁volunte ers ▁raised ▁at ▁King ▁William ' s ▁Town ▁in ▁ 1 8