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Victoria Crosses
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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.
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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.
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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.
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4 |
1st
(ex 2nd Bat. Rifle Brigade) | 20th
September 1854
Battle of the Alma, Crimea |
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.
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5 |
1st |
20th September 1854
Battle of the Alma, Crimea |
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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