Schofield was 34 years old, and a captain in the Royal Field Artillery during the Second Boer War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

Captain Schofield went out with two other officers (Walter Congreve and Frederick Roberts) and a corporal (George Nurse) when the first attempt was made to extricate the guns and helped in withdrawing the two that were saved.

Schofield was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Order, but this was cancelled when he was subsequently upgraded to the VC, his citation reads: At Colenso, on the 15th December, 1899, when the detachments serving the guns of the 14th and 66th Batteries, Royal Field Artillery, had all been killed, wounded, or driven from them by Infantry fire at close range, Captain Schofield went out when the first attempt was made to extricate the guns, and assisted in withdrawing the two that were saved.

[2]Schofield received the medal from King Edward VII during an investiture at St. James's Palace on 29 October 1901.

[3] He was promoted to major on 13 February 1900,[4] and appointed Aide-de-camp to Sir Redvers Buller, General Officer Commanding the Aldershot district.