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| Page revised: 14 January, 2008 |
Sapper Adam ARCHIBALD VC |
| Born: | Leith, Midlothian, Scotland - 14 January 1879 | 
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| Died: | Leith, Midlothian, Scotland - 11 March 1957 | ||
| Burial details: | Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh | ||
| Corps service: | He was a plaster in Edinburgh before he enlisted into the Corps in November 1916. After the war he returned to his old employment with Stuart's Granolithic Company in Edinburgh and worked for them until he retired. |
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| VC awarded: | Won VC on the Sambre-Oise canal at Ors on 4 November 1918. (First World War 1914-18) | ||
| VC unit: | 218 Field Company. | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 31 May 1919. | ||
| VC citation: | For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on 4
November 1918, near Ors, when with a party building a floating bridge
across the canal. He was foremost in the work under a heavy artillery
barrage and machine-gun fire. The latter was directed at him from
a few yards' distance while he was working on the cork floats; nevertheless
he persevered in his task, and his example and efforts were such that
the bridge, which was essential to the success of the operations,
was very quickly completed. The supreme devotion to duty of this gallant
sapper, who collapsed from gas poisoning on completion of his work,
was beyond all praise. (London Gazette: 6 January 1919) |
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| VC location: | Royal Engineers Museum | ||
| Background: | Archibald won his VC on the first day of the second
battle of Sambre (4 November 1918), which was part of the final
offensive of the war. The attack was opened on a front of 30 miles
from Valenciennes to the Sambre, north of Oisy. At this point the
60-70 feet wide Sambre-Oise canal runs approximately north-south,
about 5 miles east of Le Cateau. The canal was first barrier to
be encounted by troops in the northern attack. The British XIII
and IX Corps reached the canal first. German guns quickly ranged
the attackers, and bodies piled up before the temporary bridges
were properly emplaced under heavy fire. Other Sappers VC recipients in this battle were:
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| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
