Sergeant John Carmichael VC MM (1 April 1893 – 20 December 1977) was a British Army soldier and a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
John Carmichael VC MM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1 April 1893 Glenmavis, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Died | 20 December 1977 (aged 84) Glenmavis, North Lanarkshire, Scotland |
| Buried | New Monkland (Landward) Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Royal Engineers Sherwood Foresters North Staffordshire Regiment |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards |  Victoria CrossMilitary Medal |
Carmichael was 24 years old, and a sergeant in the 9th Battalion, The North Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's),[1] during the First World War when he selflessly shielded others from a grenade which he saw had been initiated. He was seriously injured by the explosion and could not walk for three years afterwards.
Deed
editThe following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
On 8 September 1917, when excavating a trench near Hill 60, Zwarteleen, Belgium, Sergeant Carmichael saw that a grenade had been unearthed and had started to burn. Rather than simply throwing the bomb out of the trench and endangering the lives of the men working on top, he immediately rushed to the spot shouting for his men to get clear, put his steel helmet over the grenade and then stood on the helmet. The grenade exploded, blowing him out of the trench causing him serious injuries, but no one else was hurt.[2]
Afterwards
editHonoured by home town
editOn 9 July 1918, Carmichael was honoured in a ceremony in Airdrie town hall, near the village of Glenmavis where he was raised.[3]
Freemasonry
editHe was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge New Monkland, No. 88, (Airdrie, Scotland) on 9 January, Passed on 23 January and Raised on 27 March 1919.[4]
The Medal
editHis VC is displayed at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
References
edit- ^ "Staffordshire Regiment Museum". Retrieved 14 March 2013.
- ^ "No. 30338". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1917. p. 10677.
- ^ "Enthusiastic Gathering in Town Hall". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 13 July 1918. p. 2.
- ^ The Great War 1914-1918 Victoria Cross Freemasons. Granville Angell. 2014. pp.97 - 100. ISBN 978-0-9563661-7-7
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War - Passchendaele 1917 (Stephen Snelling, 1998)
External links
edit- Location of grave and VC medal (Strathclyde)
- John Carmichael, V.C.(cemetery & photo)