World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Scotland, he posthumously received the award from British King George V at Hyde Park in London, England on June 2, 1919 on for his actions as a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) of the British Army on June 22, 1916 near Givenchy, France. Born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, his father was in the drapery business. After graduating from Dunfermline High School, he became an apprentice draper. Following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) the following month and was sent to the Western Front in France where he saw combat at the Battle of Loos, September 25 to October 14, 1915. He was killed in combat at the Battle of Arras, France at the age of 23. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "John Erskine, Acting Sergeant, Scottish Rifles, Territorial Force. For most conspicuous bravery. Whilst the near lip of a crater, caused by the explosion of a large enemy mine, was being consolidated, Actg. Serjt. Erskine rushed out under continuous fire with utter disregard of danger and rescued a wounded serjeant and a private. Later, seeing his officer, who was believed to be dead, show signs of movement, he ran out to him, bandaged his head, and remained with him for fully an hour, though repeatedly fired at, whilst a shallow trench was being dug to them. He then assisted in bringing in his officer, shielding him with his own body in order to lessen the chance of his being hit again." His Victoria Cross is on display at the Cameronians Regimental Museum, in Hamilton Low Parks Museum, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Scotland, he posthumously received the award from British King George V at Hyde Park in London, England on June 2, 1919 on for his actions as a sergeant in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) of the British Army on June 22, 1916 near Givenchy, France. Born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, his father was in the drapery business. After graduating from Dunfermline High School, he became an apprentice draper. Following the outbreak of World War I in July 1914, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) the following month and was sent to the Western Front in France where he saw combat at the Battle of Loos, September 25 to October 14, 1915. He was killed in combat at the Battle of Arras, France at the age of 23. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "John Erskine, Acting Sergeant, Scottish Rifles, Territorial Force. For most conspicuous bravery. Whilst the near lip of a crater, caused by the explosion of a large enemy mine, was being consolidated, Actg. Serjt. Erskine rushed out under continuous fire with utter disregard of danger and rescued a wounded serjeant and a private. Later, seeing his officer, who was believed to be dead, show signs of movement, he ran out to him, bandaged his head, and remained with him for fully an hour, though repeatedly fired at, whilst a shallow trench was being dug to them. He then assisted in bringing in his officer, shielding him with his own body in order to lessen the chance of his being hit again." His Victoria Cross is on display at the Cameronians Regimental Museum, in Hamilton Low Parks Museum, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Advertisement
See more Erskine memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
