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| {{Infobox Military Person | |||
| ⚫ | '''John Crawford Buchan''' ( |
||
| |name=John Crawford Buchan | |||
| |lived=10 October 1892 – 22 March 1918 | |||
| |placeofbirth= | |||
| |placeofdeath= ], ] | |||
| |placeofburial=Remembered on the ] | |||
| |image=] | |||
| |caption=Lt. John Crawford Buchan | |||
| |nickname= | |||
| |allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} ] | |||
| |serviceyears= -191*{{KIA}} | |||
| |rank=Private | |||
| |branch=] ] | |||
| |commands= | |||
| |unit=] (Princess Louise's) | |||
| |battles= ] | |||
| |awards= ] | |||
| |laterwork= | |||
| ⚫ | }}'''John Crawford Buchan''' (1892 – 1918) was a British Army Officer in the First World War, and recipient of the ], the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to ] and ] forces. | ||
| == |
==Biography== | ||
| Born on 10 October 1892 in Alloa, ], Scotland, he was the son of the local newspaper editor. He worked as a reporter before enlisting in the ] when ] broke out.<ref name=grave>, findagrave.com</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | He was 25 years old, and a ] in the 7th Battalion, ](Princess Louise's), ], attached to |
||
| ===WWI=== | |||
| On ] ] east of ], ], Second Lieutenant Buchan, although wounded early in the day, insisted on remaining with his platoon which was suffering heavy casualties from most severe shell fire. He continually visited all his posts, encouraging his men in the face of the approaching enemy and heavy machine-gun fire. When called on to surrender, he fought his way back to the support line where he held out until dusk. He then withdrew as ordered, but refused to have his injuries attended to. He was eventually completely cut off and was last seen fighting valiantly against overwhelming odds. | |||
| ⚫ | He was 25 years old, and a ] in the 7th Battalion, ] (Princess Louise's), ], attached to 8th Battalion during the ], and was awarded the VC for an act he performed on 21 March 1918 east of ], ]. He died the following day, 22 March 1918. | ||
| ====Citation==== | |||
| {{Quote|''For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When fighting with his platoon in the forward position of the battle zone, 2nd Lt. Buchan, although wounded early in the day, insisted on remaining with his men, and continually visited all his posts, encouraging and cheering his men in spite of most severe shell fire, from which his platoon was suffering heavy casualties. Later, when the enemy were creeping closer, and heavy machine-gun fire was raking his position, 2nd Lt. Buchan, with utter disregard of his personal safety, continued to visit his posts, and though still further injured accidentally, he continued to encourage his men and visit his posts. Eventually, when he saw the enemy had practically surrounded his command, he collected his platoon and prepared to fight his way back to the supporting line. At this point the enemy, who had crept round his right flank, rushed towards him, shouting out "Surrender." " To hell with surrender," he replied, and shooting the foremost of the enemy, he finally repelled this advance with his platoon. He then fought his way back to the supporting line of the forward position, where he held out till dusk. At dusk he fell back as ordered, but in spite of his injuries again refused to go to the aid post, saying his place was beside his men. Owing to the unexpected withdrawal of troops on the left flank it was impossible to send orders to 2nd Lt. Buchan to withdraw, as he was already cut off, and he was last seen holding out against overwhelming odds. The gallantry, self-sacrifice, and utter disregard of personal safety displayed by this officer during these two days of most severe fighting is in keeping with the highest traditions of the British Army.|], 21 May 1918<ref name=cwgc>, Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref>}} | |||
| He was buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Roisel, Somme, France (Plot: II. I. 6)<ref name=grave/> | |||
| ==Medals== | |||
| His medals are in the collection of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling, Scotland.<ref name=grave/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 11: | Line 38: | ||
| *] (Graham Ross, 1995) | *] (Graham Ross, 1995) | ||
| *] (Gerald Gliddon, 1997) | *] (Gerald Gliddon, 1997) | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Buchan,John Crawford}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Buchan,John Crawford}} | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 08:36, 13 February 2009
| John Crawford Buchan | |
|---|---|
 Lt. John Crawford Buchan | |
| Buried | Remembered on the Thiepval Memorial |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | -191* † |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
John Crawford Buchan (1892 – 1918) was a British Army Officer in the First World War, and 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.
Biography
Born on 10 October 1892 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, he was the son of the local newspaper editor. He worked as a reporter before enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps when World War I broke out.
WWI
He was 25 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), British Army, attached to 8th Battalion during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for an act he performed on 21 March 1918 east of Marteville, France. He died the following day, 22 March 1918.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When fighting with his platoon in the forward position of the battle zone, 2nd Lt. Buchan, although wounded early in the day, insisted on remaining with his men, and continually visited all his posts, encouraging and cheering his men in spite of most severe shell fire, from which his platoon was suffering heavy casualties. Later, when the enemy were creeping closer, and heavy machine-gun fire was raking his position, 2nd Lt. Buchan, with utter disregard of his personal safety, continued to visit his posts, and though still further injured accidentally, he continued to encourage his men and visit his posts. Eventually, when he saw the enemy had practically surrounded his command, he collected his platoon and prepared to fight his way back to the supporting line. At this point the enemy, who had crept round his right flank, rushed towards him, shouting out "Surrender." " To hell with surrender," he replied, and shooting the foremost of the enemy, he finally repelled this advance with his platoon. He then fought his way back to the supporting line of the forward position, where he held out till dusk. At dusk he fell back as ordered, but in spite of his injuries again refused to go to the aid post, saying his place was beside his men. Owing to the unexpected withdrawal of troops on the left flank it was impossible to send orders to 2nd Lt. Buchan to withdraw, as he was already cut off, and he was last seen holding out against overwhelming odds. The gallantry, self-sacrifice, and utter disregard of personal safety displayed by this officer during these two days of most severe fighting is in keeping with the highest traditions of the British Army.
— The London Gazette, 21 May 1918
He was buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Roisel, Somme, France (Plot: II. I. 6)
Medals
His medals are in the collection of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling, Scotland.
References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War - Spring Offensive 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 1997)
- ^ John Crawford Buchan, findagrave.com
- Buchan,John Crawford, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
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