John MacLaren Erskine
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John MacLaren Erskine (January 13, 1894 -April 14, 1917) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 22 years old, and a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 June 1916 at Givenchy, France, whilst the near lip of a crater caused by the explosion of a large mine was being consolidated, Sergeant Erskine rushed out under continuous fire and rescued a wounded sergeant and a private. Later, seeing his officer, who was believed to be dead, showing signs of movement, he ran to him, bandaged his head and remained with him for fully an hour, being repeatedly fired on. When assistance arrived, he helped to bring in the officer, shielding him with his own body to lessen the chance of his being hit again.
He was killed in action, Arras, France, on 14 April 1917.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cameronians Regimental Museum, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
[edit] References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
