Lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

Henry May VC (29 July 1885 – 26 July 1941) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

forces.

Early life

Henry was born 29 July 1885 in

Bridgeton, Glasgow Bridgeton ( sco, Brigtoun, gd, Baile na Drochaid) is a district to the east of Glasgow city centre. Historically part of Lanarkshire, it is bounded by Glasgow Green Glasgow Green is a park in the east end of Glasgow, Scotland, on the north ...

, to William and Maggie May. He attended Dalmarnock Public School in Bridgeton and enlisted in the Army on 29 August 1902 at the age of seventeen. He served as a

rifleman A rifleman is an infantry soldier armed with a rifling, rifled long gun. Although the rifleman role had its origin with 16th century hand cannoneers and 17th century musketeers, the term originated in the 18th century with the introduction o ...

in the 1st Battalion,

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was a rifle regiment of the British Army, the only regiment of rifles amongst the Scottish regiments of infantry. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 26th Cameronian Reg ...

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Freemasonry

He was Initiated into Freemasonry in The Lodge of Glasgow, No. 441, (Glasgow, Scotland) on 24 April, Passed on 12 June and Raised 10 July 1914.

Victoria Cross

On 22 October 1914 in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

, May rescued

Douglas Graham. May dragged him 300 yards whilst under fire. Earlier in the same day May had voluntarily attempted a rescue of a heavily wounded man, who died before May could reach him. The citation was published in a supplement to the ''

London Gazette London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

'' of 16 April 1915, dated 19 April 1915, and read:

War Office, 19th April, 1915.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officer, Non-commissioned Officer and Men for their conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty whilst serving with the Expeditionary Force: —
..
No. 7504 Private Henry May, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
For most conspicuous bravery near La Boutillerie, on 22nd October, 1914, in voluntarily endeavouring to rescue, under very heavy fire, a wounded man, who was killed before he could save him, and subsequently, on the same day, in carrying a wounded Officer a distance of 300 yards into safety whilst exposed to very severe fire.

The Victoria Cross was presented to May by

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

on 12 August 1915.

Later life

Henry May was initially discharged from the Army on 28 August 1915 after receiving the VC, after 13 years as a regular. He later rejoined in 1918 and achieved the rank of

in the Army Service Corps. After the war, May returned to work in the textiles industry. He died on 26 July 1941 and is buried at Riddrie Park Cemetery, Glasgow, Section B, Lair 146. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Cameronians Regimental Museum within

Hamilton Low Parks Museum The Low Parks Museum is located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland and traces the local history of South Lanarkshire through numerous exhibits on provincial industries and events of local historical importance. History The Low Parks Museu ...

Hamilton, Scotland Hamilton ( sco, Hamiltoun; gd, Baile Hamaltan ) is a large town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It sits south-east of Glasgow, south-west of Edinburgh and nort ...

. In October 2014, an engraved granite paving stone was laid during a ceremony outside the People's Palace in Glasgow to remember May and his bravery. The ceremony was attended by his grandchildren. Glasgow's Depute Lord Provost unveiled the memorial and said "May ..ranks among the very few men in the Great War who survived while carrying out the ultimate act of valour, risking his life to save the lives of comrades ..He deserves our utmost respect and it will be a real honour to meet with his relatives".

Notes

References

Profile
*Harvey, David (1999). ''

Monuments to Courage David Charles Harvey (29 July 1946 – 4 March 2004) was a historian and author. He is notable for his seminal work, ''Monuments To Courage'', which documents the graves of almost all recipients of the Victoria Cross, a task that took him over 36 ...

.'' Naval & Military Publishers. . *''

The Register of the Victoria Cross ''The Register of the Victoria Cross'' is a reference work that provides brief information on every Victoria Cross awarded until the publication date. Each entry provides a summary of the deed, along with a photograph of the recipient and the fol ...

.'' (1981). This England. . *Ross, Graham (1995). ''

Scotland's Forgotten Valour ''Scotland's Forgotten Valour'' is a 1995 book by Graham Ross, published by MacLean Press under . (The typography of the title on the book uses capitalisation to contrast emphasis ("SCOTLAND'S FORgotten VALOUR"), to communicate additional meanin ...

'' MacLean Press. . *Glidden, Gerald (1997). ''1914 (VCs of the First World War)'' Sutton Publishing. .

External links

Location of grave and VC medal
his life story {{DEFAULTSORT:May, Henry 1885 births 1941 deaths People from Bridgeton, Glasgow British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Cameronians soldiers British Army personnel of World War I Royal Army Service Corps officers British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Glasgow