Hugh McIver VC MM & Bar (21 June 1890 – 2 September 1918) 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.
Hugh McIver | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 June 1890 Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire |
| Died | 2 September 1918 (aged 28) Courcelles, France |
| Buried | Vraucourt Copse Cemetery, Vaulx-Vraucourt |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | Royal Scots |
| Battles / wars | World War I † |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal & Bar |
He was 28 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 23 August 1918 east of Courcelle-le Compte, France, Private McIver was employed as a company-runner and under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire carried messages regardless of his own safety. Single-handed he pursued an enemy scout into a machine-gun post and having killed six of the garrison, captured 20 prisoners and two machine-guns. Later he succeeded, at great personal risk, in stopping the fire of a British tank which was directed in error against our own troops. He was killed in action 10 days later[1] near Courcelles, France, on 2 September 1918.[2]
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.
Born in Linwood, Renfrewshire, he spent much of his life in Newton (Cambuslang) and is commemorated in both towns.[3][4] In 2015, Kier Homes named a street in their Hawkhead Village development in Paisley, Hugh McIver Avenue, in memory of him.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ "No. 31012". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 November 1918. p. 13473.
- ^ CWGC entry
- ^ Cambuslang Victoria Cross heroes will be remembered, Edel Kenealy, Daily Record, 20 June 2017
- ^ Touching tribute to brave Linwood soldier 100 years on from his Victoria Cross honour, Kenneth Speirs, Daily Record, 24 August 2018
Bibliography
edit- Gliddon, Gerald (2014) [2002]. Road to Victory 1918. VCs of the First World War. The History Press. ISBN 978-0750953610.
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)