Victoria Cross

1st KOSB (7th Mounted Infantry). South Africa (Lambrechtfontein), 18th May 1901. For coming to the rescue of a wounded NCO whose horse had been shot from under him. He lost his life in the act.

Award gazetted 8th August 1902.

Read the citation from the London Gazette (8th August 1902)

7th KOSB. Loos, 25th September 1915. At the outset of the battle, the Battalion was confronted by poison gas and heavy artillery fire. The legendary ‘Piper of Loos’ led the assault from the trenches, playing the Regimental March and Charge. Although badly wounded in the legs, he followed the Jocks towards their objective until the severity of his wounds forced him to withdraw.

Award gazetted 18th November 1915.

Read the citation from the London Gazette (16th November 1915)

1st KOSB. Third Ypres (Wijdendrift), 18th August 1917. In spite of a head wound, CSM Skinner led a party of six men to clear three blockhouses, capturing sixty prisoners, three machine guns and two mortars. He was subsequently killed by a sniper’s bullet. Nine VCs from the 29th Division were present at his funeral, six of them acting as pallbearers.

Award gazetted 14th September 1917.

Read the citation from the London Gazette ( 14th September 1917)

1st KOSB. Third Ypres (Wijdendrift), 18th August 1917. In spite of a head wound, CSM Skinner led a party of six men to clear three blockhouses, capturing sixty prisoners, three machine guns and two mortars. He was subsequently killed by a sniper’s bullet. Nine VCs from the 29th Division were present at his funeral, six of them acting as pallbearers.

Award gazetted 14th September 1917.

Read the citation from the London Gazette ( 14th September 1917)

6th KOSB. Wytschaete Ridge, 29th September 1918. Sgt McGuffie, on his own, attacked a series of enemy dugouts, disarmed a party of Germans escorting British POWs, and captured a blockhouse. He was killed a few days later.

Award gazetted 13th December 1918.

Read the citation from the London Gazette (13th December 1918)

1st KOSB. Korea, 4th/5th November 1951. Acting on his own initiative, and although his Company was vastly outnumbered, Pte Speakman led a party of six men in a series of grenade charges against the enemy, driving them from his position and enabling the rest of his Company to safely withdraw.

Award gazetted 25th December 1951.

Read the citation from the London Gazette (25th December 1951)