Medals of the Regiments:
The Scots Guards

 
 
 
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The Scots Guards

 Victoria Crosses
 
 
 

 

Victoria Crosses
 

Battalion

Date/
Location
Name  Citation/Notes

Crimean War 1854 - 1856

1 1st 6th September 1855
 Sebastopol, Crimea
James Craig LG 20th November 1857

Military Train, 3rd Battalion (late Serjeant, Scots Fusilier Guards)

For having volunteered, and personally collected other volunteers, to go out under a heavy fire of grape and small arms, on the night of the 6th September, 1855, when in the right advanced sap, in front of the Redan, to look for Captain Buckley, Scots Fusilier Guards, who was supposed to be wounded. Serjeant Craig brought in, with the assistance of a Drummer, the body of that Officer, whom he found dead,—in the performance of which act he was wounded.

 

 
2 1st 20th September 1854
 Battle of the Alma, Crimea

3234 Sergeant
James McKechnie

LG 24th February 1857

When the formation of the Regiment was disordered at Alma, for having behaved gallantly, and rallied the men round the Colours.

 

 
3 1st 20th September 1854
 Battle of the Alma, Crimea
3368 Private
William Reynolds
LG 24th February 1857

When the formation of the line was disordered at Alma, for having behaved in a conspicuous manner in rallying the men round the Colours.
 

 
4 1st
(ex 2nd Bat. Rifle Brigade)
 20th September 1854
 Battle of the Alma, Crimea
John Simpson Knox

Sergeant
John Simpson Knox

LG 24th February 1857

When serving as a Serjeant in the Scots Fusilier Guards, Lieutenant Knox was conspicuous for his exertions in reforming the ranks of the Guards at the Battle of the Alma. Subsequently, when in the Rifle Brigade, he volunteered for the ladder-party in the attack on the Redan, on the 18th of June, and (in the words of Captain Blackett, under whose command he was,) behaved admirably, remaining on the field until twice wounded.

 

 
5 1st  20th September 1854
 Battle of the Alma, Crimea
Brevet Major Robert Loyd-Lindsay

Brevet Major
Robert Loyd-Lindsay
LG 24th February 1857

   When the formation of the line of the Regiment was disordered at Alma, Captain Lindsay
stood firm with the Colours, and by his example and energy, greatly tended to restore order. At Inkerman, at a most trying moment, he, with a few men, charged a party of Russians, driving them back, and running one through the body himself.

 

 

First World War  1914 - 1918

6 1st 3rd August 1915
between Cambrin and La Bassée, France
Second Lieutenant
George Boyd-Rochfort
LG 1st September 1915

Second Lieutenant George Arthur Boyd Rochfort, Special Reserve, 1st Battalion, Scots Guards.
     For most conspicuous bravery in the trenches between Cambrin and La Bassee on 3rd August, 1915.
     At 2 a.m. a German trench mortar bomb landed on the side of the parapet of the communication trench in which he stood, close to a small working party of his Battalion. He might easily have stepped back a few yards round the corner into perfect safety, but, shouting to his men to look out, he rushed at the bomb, seized it and hurled it over the parapet, where it at once exploded. There is no doubt that this splendid combination of presence of mind and courage saved the lives of many of the working party.

 

 

7 2nd 19th December 1914
Rouges Bancs, France
 Private
James MacKenzie
LG 18th February 1915

8185 Private James Mackenzie, late 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards.
   For conspicuous bravery at Rouges Bancs on the 19th December, in rescuing a severely wounded man from in front of the German trenches, under a very heavy fire and after a stretcher-bearer party had been compelled to abandon the attempt. Private Mackenzie was subsequently killed on that day whilst in the performance of a similar act of gallant conduct.

 

 
8 1st 27th November 1917
 Fontaine Notre Dame, France
Sergeant
John McAulay
LG 11th January 1918

   No. 10053 Serjt. John McAulay, D.C.M., Scots Guards (Stirling).
    For most conspicuous bravery arid initiative in attack. When all his officers had become casualties Serjt. McAulay assumed command of the company and under shell and machine-gun fire successfully held and consolidated the objective gained. .He reorganised the company, cheered on and encouraged his men, and under heavy fire at close quarters' showed utter disregard of danger.
    Noticing a counter-attack developing on his exposed left flank, he successfully repulsed it by the skilful and bold use of machine-guns, aided by two men only, causing heavy enemy casualties. Serjt. McAulay also carried his company commander, who was mortally wounded, a long distance to a place of safety under very heavy fire. Twice he was knocked down by the concussion of a bursting shell, but, nothing daunted, he continued on his way until his objective was achieved, killing two of the enemy who endeavoured to intercept him.
    Throughout the day this very gallant Non-commissioned Officer displayed the highest courage, tactical skill, and coolness under exceptionally trying circumstances.

 

 
9 1st 15th September 1916
Ginchy, France
Lance-Serjeant
Frederick McNess
LG 26th October 1916

No. 13301 Lance-Serjeant Fred McNess, Scots Guards.
     For most conspicuous bravery. During a severe engagement he led his men on with the greatest dash in face of heavy shell and machine gun fire. When the first line of enemy trenches was readied, it was found that the left flank was exposed and that the enemy was bombing down the trench. Serjeant McNess thereupon organised a counter-attack and led it in person. He was very severely wounded in the neck and jaw, but went on passing through the barrage of hostile bombs in order to bring up fresh supplies of bombs to his own men. Finally he established a " block," and continued encouraging his men and throwing bombs till utterly exhausted by loss of blood.

 

 
10 2nd 13th October 1918
 St. Python, France
Lance Sergeant
Harry Blanshard Wood
LG 14th December 1918

No. 16444 Cpl. (L./Sjt.) Harry Blanshard Wood. M.M., 2nd Bn., S. Gds. (Bristol).
   For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during operations at the village of St. Python, France, on the 13th of October, 1918.
      The advance was desperately opposed by machine guns, and the streets were raked by fire. His platoon Serjeant was killed, and command of the leading platoon fell to him. The task of the company was to clear the western side of the village and secure the crossing of the River Selle. Command of the ruined bridge had to be gained, though the space in front of it. was commanded by snipers. Cpl. Wood boldly carried a large brick out into the open space, lay down behind it, and fired continually at these snipers, ordering his men to work across while he covered them by his fire. This he continued to do under heavy and well-aimed fire until the whole of his party had reached the objective point.
     He showed complete disregard for his personal safety, and his leadership throughout the day was of the highest order. Later, he drove off repeated enemy counter-attacks against his position. His gallant conduct and initiative shown contributed largely to the success of the day's operations.

 

 

Second World War 1939 - 1945

11 1st 22 April/27 April 1943
 Dj Bou Arada, Tunisia
Lieutenant (temporary Captain)
The Lord
Charles Anthony Lyell
LG 12th August 1943

Lieutenant (temporary Captain) The Lord Lyell (57781), Scots Guards (Kirriemuir, Angus)
      From the 22nd April, 1943, to 27th April, 1943, Captain The Lord Lyell commanded his Company, which had been placed under the orders of a Battalion of the Grenadier Guards, with great gallantry, ability and cheerfulness. He led it down a slope under heavy mortar fire to repel a German counter attack on 22nd April, led it again under heavy fire through the Battalion's first objective on 23rd April in order to capture and consolidate a high point, and held this point through a very trying period of shelling, heat and shortage of water During this period, through his energy and cheerfulness, he not only kept up the fighting sprit of his Company but also managed through Radio Telephony, which he worked himself from an exposed position, to bring most
effective artillery file to bear on enemy tanks, vehicles and infantry positions.
    At about 1800 hours on 27th April, 1943, this officer's Company was taking part in the Battalion's attack on Dj Bou Arada The Company was held up in the foothills by heavy fire from an enemy post on the left this post consisted of an 88 millimetre gun and a heavy machine gun in separate pits. Realizing that until this post was destroyed the advance could not proceed, Lord Lyell collected the only available men not pinned down by fire—a sergeant, a lance-corporal and two guardsmen—and led them to attack it. He was a long way in advance of the others and lobbed a hand grenade into the machine gun pit destroying the crew. At this point his sergeant was killed and both the guardsmen were wounded. The lance-corporal got down to give covering fire to Lord Lyell who had run straight on towards the 88 millimetre gun pit and was working his way round to the left of it. So quickly had this officer acted that he was in among the crew with the bayonet before they had time to fire more than one shot. He killed a number of them before being overwhelmed and killed himself. The few survivors of the gun crew then left the pit, some of them being killed while they were retiring, and both the heavy machine gun and 88 millimetre gun were silenced.
    The Company was then able to advance and take its objective . I here is no doubt that Lord Lyell's outstanding leadership, gallantry and self sacrifice enabled his Company to carry out its task which had an important bearing on the success of the Battalion and of the Brigade.

 

 
 
 
 

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