How do say 'Schiess'?

    I spent my earlier years in Roslyn, New York. A small harbor town on the north shore of Long Island. The only other Schiess I encountered were: my parents, Justin and Edith, my siblings; Justin and Linda, my Grandparents; Frederick and Marie, and My Father's brother - Uncle Al, his wife Margie and their daughter Madeline. Outside the family and relatives, Schiess was pronounced more often incorrectly than correctly. "Are you sure you pronounce your name that way" was once uttered by a grade school teacher! Rhymes with 'peace' didn't seem to help friends, teachers, neighbors etc. 'I' before 'E' didn't help others spell the name correctly. So scheiss and those mispronunciations that rhyme with 'rice' persisted. We Schiess know what scheiss is. 

In 1965 the action epic, ZULU, based on the famous heroic exploits of January 22, 1897, when a handful of British soldiers, stationed at Rorke's Drift, withstood an onslaught by some 4,000 Zulu warriors. Eleven of the defenders received the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military decoration. Examining the 'ZULU' cast below you will see that the actor, Dickie Owen, besides portraying: The Mummy (The Mummy, Return of The Mummy), Prem (The Mummy's Shroud), and Major Domo (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), He Portrayed Corporal Schiess, a recipient of the Victoria Cross in the movie film 'ZULU'. It this Film, Dickie Owen tells the world how to pronounce 'Schiess'.           Schiess-pronunciation sound bite from ZULU

Corporeal Schiess  (Natal Native Contingent).
"An Adventurer from Switzerland"

He was born on 7 April 1856, Burgdorf, Bern Canton, Switzerland. Schiess served in the French army before sailing from Hamburg to East London South Africa in 1877. He volunteered and served in the 9th Frontier War. Colonel Durnford appointed him a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Natal Native Contingent. Because of his ill-fitting boots, he found himself in the hospital at Rorke's Drift on 22 January 1879. After much pressure, he was awarded the VC - the first to a soldier serving with South Africa forces. He received the VC from Sir Garnet Wolseley at a special parade in Pietermaritzburg on 3 February 18

After the disbandment of the volunteer forces, he failed to find work in South Africa, even from the British authorities, and it was said of him later that had he mentioned that he had been involved at Rorke's Drift, and had indeed won a Victoria Cross, then the men he knew may well have had a different attitude to him - Still, it was too late then.. In 1884, he was found on the streets of Cape Town suffering from exposure and malnutrition. The Royal Navy found him, gave him food, and offered him a passage to England, which he accepted, but he became ill during the voyage. He died on board ship on 14 December 1884 aged 28, and is buried at sea off the coast of Angola. His VC was with him when he died. It is now on display in the National Army Museum in London.

Note-There were some reports of him being spoken to in Allahabad, India by a Capt. Penn-Symons in November 1891. However, the recorded details of the location of his burial at sea, 13°00S/07°24W 1,376Km. N.E. of Helena suggest a more accurate account of his death.

Why was he awarded the Victoria Cross?

    on display at the National Army Museum                                          

Despite suffering with problems to his feet, he displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line when the Zulus were upon the mealie bags. He crept along the wall to dislodge them, killing three before returning to the inner defenses. He was 22 at the time of the defenses.

More Information on Corporeal Schiess - Click Here -> Cpl. Ferdnand Christian Schiess