WILLIAM ANGUS VC
THE VC CITATION "No
7709 Lance-Corporal William Angus, 8th (Lanark) Battalion, The Highland
Light Infantry (Territorial Force) - For most conspicuous bravery and
devotion to duty at Givenchy on 12 June 1915, in voluntarily leaving his
trench under very heavy bomb and rifle fire and rescuing a wounded officer
who was lying within a few yards of the enemy's position. Lance-Corporal
Angus had no chance whatsoever in escaping the enemy's fire when
undertaking this very gallant action, and in effecting the rescue he
sustained about 40 wounds from bombs, some of them being very
serious".
LETTER
FROM LT COL GEMMILL TO MR ANGUS SENIOR "A
most heroic action was performed by your son Lance Corporal William Angus.
On a certain night I had to send a small party out to attack a German
barricade. The Germans exploded a mine, and when the party got back
Lieutenant Martin (whom I expect you will know as he comes from Carluke)
was missing. In the morning, Mr Martin was seen lying on the parapet of
the German trench, and shortly afterwards he was seen to to move his arms.
Your boy at once volunteered to go out and bring him in. It seemed so
hopeless that I could hardly bring myself to consent, thinking it would be
better to wait until dark and then try and rush the trench. However, we
made arrangements for covering fire with rifles and machine guns and, with
a rope 50 yards long, which was the distance Mr Martin was away, your son
crept out. Owing to the clever way he crept and the height of the parapet,
he got to where Mr Martin was lying without being seen. He took Mr Martin
by the shoulders and raised him up a bit. The Germans must have seen
or heard him - they weren't six feet from him - but luckily the parapet
was high and our fire made them keep down their heads. They then threw
bombs and hand grenades which burst all around your son and Mr Martin. Mr
Martin was seen to stagger to his feet, and assisted by your son, made a
dash for our line. He got about thirty feet and fell, but managed to crawl
in. Your son took a slightly different road and had at least a dozen bombs
thrown at him. We saw he was wounded and he fell, but thank God he managed
to get back to our line also. No words can describe one's feelings over a
deed like this. Your boy went gladly to what was almost certain death,
determined to try and rescue his officer. That he ever returned was a
miracle. The General has sent forward his name for the Victoria Cross, and
that he will get it there is little doubt, as no braver deed has ever been
done in all the history of the British Army. Your son has no fewer than
forty wounds, many of them serious, some very slight, but I am glad to say
that the doctors say there is no fear of him, and he will recover from
them all. Mr Martin, you will be glad to hear, will also recover. Just in
closing may I say how proud we all are to have such a man as your son in
our battalion, and to have seen such a deed as this has been the privilege
of few."
DESCRIPTION
BY A SOLDIER WHO WITNESSED THE DEED "When
the men came in after the explosion, a fear arose which with each arrival
deepened into a certainty. Their leader had not returned. Lt Martin, the
bright eyed clean cheery lad we had all learned in the last eight months
at the front to love for his constant bonhomie, and to honour for many a
plucky act, is not accounted for. 'Are the rest in?' "Yes
Sir" 'Anyone seen Mr Martin?' No answer. Perhaps you folks at
home don't know what news like that means to officers and men of a
Territorial battalion who have shared hardships together through a long
campaign, whose home ties are now linked into chains of iron, forged in
fire and blood. But you will believe that all the black night long
faithful men risked their lives over the parapet and searched and crawled
and searched again - in vain. And when the morning came, with heavy hearts
they gave up their task - all hope seemed gone. LETTER
FROM ANGUS VC IN FRANCE TO HIS SISTER IN CARLUKE "I
am still in France and they might keep me here for some time yet. They are
doing their best to save the sight of my left eye. The best of eye
specialists in the world are in this hospital. They have given me great
hopes of getting my sight all right, so I will just have to hope for the
best. My other wounds are getting on all right, but it will be a long time
before I am able to get up and walk about. However, I will get on all
right, never fear, and some day your battered old brother will come back
to Carluke as cheery as ever."
STATEMENT
BY THE KING TO MR ANGUS SENIOR "You
must be proud indeed to have so gallant a son and I heartily congratulate
both of you. It is almost a miracle that he is spared to you after so
dangerous a venture. He has won his decoration nobly and I sincerely hope
he may fully recover and live long enough to enjoy it. May you too be long
spared to feel pride in him and his achievements."
THANKS
BY LT MARTIN AT THE VC HOMECOMING CEREMONY "I
know you will bear with me if I do not make a long speech. My heart is too
full for words. When I lay on the German parapet that Saturday in June my
plight seemed hopeless, but Angus at the risk of his life came out and
saved me. Carluke may well be proud of her hero. For it was an act of
bravery second to none in the annals of the British Army. Corporal Angus,
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope you will soon be restored
to your wanted health and strength and that you may be long spared to wear
this watch and chain which please accept as a small memento of that
day."
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