10 OF THE BEST 01
John MacGregor Born at Cawdor near Nairn in 1889, John MacGregor became Canada’s most-decorated soldier. He emigrated in 1909, working as a carpenter and cowboy before becoming a fur trapper. When he found out Britain was at war, he immediately enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Rifl es. As a captain, he won his VC for his actions from 29 September to 3 October 1918 when he charged the German machine guns near Cambrai in France, killing four and capturing eight using his rifl e and bayonet. At the outbreak of the Second World War, MacGregor enlisted again and became a Lieutenant-Colonel, training troops.
Victoria’s heroes
Awarded for valour in the face of the enemy, the Victoria Cross is our highest military decoration. These are the tales of ten of the 164 Scots awarded this highly-prized medal
WORDS PETER RANSCOMBE JOHN MEIKLE
For his bravery in single-handedly storming a German machine gun position at Marfaux in France on 20 July 1918 armed only with a revolver and a walking stick, Sergeant John Meikle was posthumously awarded his VC. He had been a ticket clerk at Nitshill railway station in Glasgow before joining the Seaforth Highlanders.
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William Bissett Lieutenant William Bissett, from St Martins in Perthshire, was a platoon commander with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders east of Maing, in France, on 25 October 1918. Following heavy casualties, he took command of his company to repel a German counter-attack. Having run out of ammunition, he climbed a railway embankment and called for a bayonet charge, driving the Germans back and ‘saving a critical situation’.
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WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK 04
GEORGE MCINTOSH When his company came under heavy machine gun fire at Ypres in Belgium on 31 July 1917, Private George McIntosh from the Gordon Highlanders rushed forward and threw a Mills grenade into the German emplacement. He killed two soldiers and injured a third, capturing two light machine guns in the process.
George Findlay In the fi nal offensive of the First World War, Major George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay from Balloch, near Helensburgh, was awarded the VC for bridging the Sambre-Oise Canal near Catillon in France on 4 November 1918. His 409 (Lowland) Field Company of the Royal Engineers built their bridge despite coming under heavy enemy fi re.
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