Schiess was born in Burgdorf, Switzerland on 7 April 1856, and spent time in an orphanage after his parents died.
In 1870 he joined the French Army and fought in the Franco-Prussian War.
Schiess later served in the Armée de l'Est and thus was interned in his home country when it surrendered there.
He went to South Africa in 1877 and volunteered for the last Xhosa War.
When the Anglo-Zulu War began the 22-year-old veteran was made a corporal in the Natal Native Contingent of the British Army in South Africa.

On 22 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift, Natal, Corporal Schiess, in spite of suffering from bad blisters on his foot caused by ill fitting boots, displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line of defence and the Zulus had occupied the wall of mealie bags which had been abandoned.
He crept along the wall in order to dislodge one of the enemy and succeeded in killing him and two others before returning to the inner defences.

In 1880 he was awarded the Victoria Cross by General Sir Garnet Wolseley for his services at Rorke's Drift.
Schiess was the first man serving with a locally raised native unit to receive the Victoria Cross, the "British-only" rule being broken under political pressure, also being the first Swiss national to do so.

After the volunteer forces were disbanded he failed to find work, even from British authorities.
He briefly went to India but eventually returned to South Africa.
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 on board the Serapis.
He accepted, but became ill during the voyage and died.
His remains were buried at sea at approximately 13°00′S 07°24′W.
It is unknown if there was a portrait of Corporal Schiess.
According to some, in Lady Butler's painting The Defence of Rorke's Drift he is shown lying at left against the mealie bags.
Schiess was born in Burgdorf, Switzerland on 7 April 1856, and spent time in an orphanage after his parents died. In 1870 he joined the French Army and fought in the Franco-Prussian War. Schiess later served in the Armée de l'Est and thus was interned in his home country when it surrendered there. He went to South Africa in 1877 and volunteered for the last Xhosa War. When the Anglo-Zulu War began the 22-year-old veteran was made a corporal in the Natal Native Contingent of the British Army in South Africa.
On 22 January 1879, at Rorke's Drift, Natal, Corporal Schiess, in spite of suffering from bad blisters on his foot caused by ill fitting boots, displayed great gallantry when the garrison had retired to the inner line of defence and the Zulus had occupied the wall of mealie bags which had been abandoned. He crept along the wall in order to dislodge one of the enemy and succeeded in killing him and two others before returning to the inner defences.
In 1880 he was awarded the Victoria Cross by General Sir Garnet Wolseley for his services at Rorke's Drift. Schiess was the first man serving with a locally raised native unit to receive the Victoria Cross, the "British-only" rule being broken under political pressure, also being the first Swiss national to do so.
After the volunteer forces were disbanded he failed to find work, even from British authorities. He briefly went to India but eventually returned to South Africa. 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 on board the Serapis. He accepted, but became ill during the voyage and died. His remains were buried at sea at approximately 13°00′S 07°24′W.
It is unknown if there was a portrait of Corporal Schiess. According to some, in Lady Butler's painting The Defence of Rorke's Drift he is shown lying at left against the mealie bags.
Ferdinand Schiess