Adam Archibald VC (14 January 1879 – 10 March 1957) was a Scottish

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 ...

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 and Commonwealth forces. In 1915, Archibald enlisted with the 7th

Durham Light Infantry The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and t ...

before transferring to the 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers during the second battle of the Sambre. At the age of 39, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for action while his unit was attempting to bridge the

Sambre–Oise Canal The Canal de la Sambre à l'Oise () is a canal in northern France. It forms a connection between the canalised river Sambre (Meuse basin) at Landrecies and the Oise (Seine basin) at La Fère. The canal is long, and has 38 locks. The junction m ...

. Archibald received his medal from

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 Qu ...

at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. From his citation:

Freemasonry

He was initiated into Freemasonry in Lodge Elgin & Bruce, No.1077], ( Limekilns, Fife,

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

) in 1912. He later affiliated to Lodge St James Operative, No.97, (

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

The Medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.

Death

Adam Archibald died at his home in

Leith Leith (; gd, Lìte) is a port area in the north of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith. In 2021, it was ranked by ''Time Out'' as one of the top five neighbourhoods to live in the world. The earliest ...

at the age of 78. He was cremated at

Warriston Crematorium Warriston ( ) is a suburb of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It lies east of the Royal Botanic Garden in Inverleith. The name derives from Warriston House, a local mansion house demolished in 1966. In July 1600 John Kincaid, the Laird of ...

References

External links

Scotland's War
"Edinburgh"

"Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham" {{DEFAULTSORT:Archibald, Adam British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Durham Light Infantry soldiers Royal Engineers soldiers British Army personnel of World War I 1879 births 1957 deaths People from Leith British Army personnel of the Russian Civil War British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Edinburgh

Freemasonry

The Medal

Death

References

Further reading

External links