HEROES

Victoria Cross Medal Winners

updated on 10th July, 2020.

Victoria Cross

LANCE CORPORAL HAROLD SANDFORD MUGFORD

8th Squadron (Cavalry)

Born 31.8.1894 / Died 16.6.1958
Date of Gazette 26.11.1917

On 11th April 1917 at Monchy-Le-Preux, France, under intense fire, Lance Corporal Mugford got his machine gun into a forward very exposed position from which he dealt very efficiently with the enemy. Almost immediately his No.2 was killed and he was severely wounded. He was ordered to go to a new position and then have his wounds dressed but he refused, staying to inflict severe damage on the enemy with his gun. Soon afterwards a shell broke both his legs, but he still remained with his gun and when he was at last removed to the dressing station he was again wounded.

LIEUTENANT JOHN REGINALD NOBLE GRAHAM

9th Battalion, Argyl and Sutherland Highlanders
attached 136th M.G Company (Infantry)

Born 17.9.1892 / Died 6.12.1980
Date of Gazette 14.9.1917

On 22nd April 1917 at Istabulat, Mesopotamia, Lieutenant Graham was in command of a Machine Gun Section which came under very heavy fire, when his men became casualties he insisted on carrying the ammunition and although twice wounded he continued in control and with one gun opened accurate fire on the enemy. This gun was put out of action and he was again wounded and forced to retire, but before doing so he disabled his gun and then brought a Lewis Gun into action with excellent effect until all the ammunition was expended. He was wounded yet again and was forced to retire.

The son of Lt Graham is a member of the MGC/OCA.

LIEUTENANT ALLAN EBENEZER KER
3rd Battalion Gordon Highlanders,
attached 61st Battalion MGC (Infantry)

Born 5.3.1883 / Died 12.9.1958
Date of Gazette 4.1.1919

On 21st March 1918 near St.Quentin, France, when the enemy had penetrated our line, Lieutenant Ker, with one Vickers Gun succeeded in holding up the attack, inflicting many casualties. He then stayed at his post with a Sergeant and several men who had been badly wounded beating off bayonet attacks with revolvers, the Vickers Gun having been destroyed. Although exhausted from want of food and gas poisoning as well as from fighting and attending to the wounded Lieutenant Ker only surrendered when all his ammunition was spent and the position over-run. He had managed to hold 500 of the enemy off for three hours.

PRIVATE HERBERT GEORGE COLUMBINE

9th Squadron (Cavalry)

Born 28.11.1893 / Died 22.3.1918
Date of Gazette 3.5.1918

On 22nd March 1918 at Hervilly Wood, France, Private Columbine took over command of a gun and kept firing it from 9am to 1pm in an isolated position with no wire in front. During this time wave after wave of the enemy failed to get up to him, but at last with the help of a low flying aircraft the enemy managed to gain a strong foot holding in the trench. As the position was now untenable, Private Columbine told the two remaining men to get away, and although he was being bombed on either side, he kept his gun firing, inflicting losses until he was killed by a bomb which blew up him and his gun.

A/LANCE CORPORAL ARTHUR HENRY CROSS

40th Battalion M.G.C (Infantry)

Born 13.12.1884 / Died 23.11.1965
Date of Gazette 4.6.1918

On 25th March 1918 at Ervillers, France, Lance Corporal Cross volunteered to make a reconnaissance of the position of two machine guns which had been captured by the enemy. He went alone to the enemy trench and with his revolver forced seven of the enemy to surrender and to carry their guns with the tripods and ammunition to our lines, he then handed over the prisoners and collected teams for his guns which he brought into action immediately annihilating a very heavy attack by the enemy.

We are proud to note that the MGC/OCA successfully raised funds to provide a headstone for Cpl Cross's grave at the South London Cemetery, Rowan Road, SW16. A service of commemoration took place on Thursday 27th September 2001.

T/SECOND LIEUTENANT WILLIAM ALLISON WHITE

30th Battalion M.G.C (Infantry)

Born 19.10.1894 / Died 13.9.1974
Date of Gazette 15.11.1918

On 18th September 1918 at Gouzeaucourt, France, when the advance was held up by the enemy machine guns, Second Lieutenant White rushed a gun position single-handed, shot the three gunners and captured the gun. Later he attacked a gun position accompanied by two men, both of whom were immediately shot down. He went on alone to the gun, killing the team and capturing the gun. On a third occasion, when the advance was again held up, this officer collected a small party and rushed the position, inflicting heavy losses on the garrison. Subsequently, he consolidated the position by the skillful use of captured enemy and his own machine guns.

LIEUTENANT DAVID STUART McGREGOR

6th Battalion The Royal Scots, Attached 29th Battalion M.G.C (Infantry)

Born 16.10.1895 / Died 22.10.1918
Date of Gazette 14.12.1918

On 22nd October 1918 near Hooeemolen, Belgium, Lieutenant McGregor concealed his guns on a limber under the bank of a sunken road, but immediately the troops advanced and they were subjected to such intense enfilade machine gun fire that he realised it was impossible to get guns carried forward without great delay. Having ordered the teams to take a safer route, he lay flat on the limber. The driver then galloped forward under the heaviest machine gun fire to cover beyond. The guns were put into action and the advance resumed. Lieutenant McGregor continued directing the fire until he was killed.