John Erskine VC

100 years on and still we have young men heading out to faraway places and facing danger. This young man was one of them, he was related to my husband.
'At the going down of the sun - we remember him.'

take care ... :)

LANCE CORPORAL JOHN ERSKINE OF THE 5TH BATTALION THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES).

He was born in Dunfermline, Fife, on 13 January 1894. His award was gazetted on 5 August 1916.

On 22 June 1916 at Givenchy, France, .-. whilst near the lip of a crater caused by a large mine which was being consolidated, [Acting] Sergeant Erskine rushed out under continuous fire and rescued a wounded sergeant and 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 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.

Of him the history of 5th Battalion says:
‘Lance Corporal James Erskine of the 5th SR, who had previously brought in two wounded men, very gallantly went over the open [ground] to attend to Lieutenant Stevenson, lying beside him and scooping out cover until a shallow trench was sapped out to him. For this act he very deservedly was awarded the Victoria Cross, the second in our battalion, and was promoted sergeant.’

He was acting as Company Sergeant Major of D Company when he was killed at Arras, France, on 14 April 1917.

John Erskine’s medal is in the Museum of The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).