James Craig
Colour-Sergeant, Scots (Fusilier) Guards
- Register No.
- 268 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Colour-Sergeant (register: Colour Sergeant) all Colour-Sergeants →
- Unit
- Scots (Fusilier) Guards (register: Scots Fusiliers Guards) all Scots Fusiliers Guards VCs →
- Date of action
- 6 September 1855 on this day → all of 1855 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Crimean War
- London Gazette
- 20th November, 1857 on this day → all of 1857 →
- Born
- 10th September 1824 in the parish of St Martin's at Perth,
- Died
- 18th March, 1861 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Memorial / grave
- at St Mary's Cemetery, South End, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
- Medal held by
- the Guards Regimental HQ
Digest of citation
On 6th September, 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Colour-Sergeant Craig Volunteered and personally collected other volunteers, to go out under heavy fire to look for a captain of his regiment who was supposed to be wounded. Sergeant Craig brought in the body of that officer who me found dead, and while doing so was himself wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CRAIG, James. (reg No. 268).
Colour-Sergeant. Scots (Fusilier) Guards.
London Gazetted on 20th November, 1857 VC Medal's Custodian is the Guards Regimental HQ..
Born 10th September 1824 in the parish of St Martin's at Perth, Scotland.
Died on 18th March, 1861 at Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Memorial on grave at St Mary's Cemetery, South End, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Digest of Citation reads: On 6th September, 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Colour-Sergeant Craig Volunteered and personally collected other volunteers, to go out under heavy fire to look for a captain of his regiment who was supposed to be wounded. Sergeant Craig brought in the body of that officer who me found dead, and while doing so was himself wounded.
Additional information:. He later attained the rank of Ensign and Adjutant. He was five feet eight inches tall and before joining the Army he worked as a labourer. He enlisted, at the age in 18 years and three months in the Scots Fusilier Regiment of Foot Guards on 25th August 1843; being attested the following day. His Army No. 3075 in the Scots Fusilier Guards he served as a private for two and three-quarter years before being promoted to Corporal on 11th June 1846. He was promoted to Sergeant on 22nd July 1851 and Colour-Sergeant on 27th June 1855. He took part in the battles of Balaclava and Inkerman, the siege and fall of Sebastopol, taking part in the sortie on 26th October. At the Battle of Inkerman he received severe gunshot wounds through both legs (he was awarded the Victoria Cross). He also receive the Crimean Medal with three clasps. On 26th June 1856 he was appointed to Cornet and Adjutant in the Land Transport Corps. In 1859 he was the Adjutant of the 10th Regiment (Lincolnshire).
Additional information
He later attained the rank of Ensign and Adjutant. He was five feet eight inches tall and before joining the Army he worked as a labourer. He enlisted, at the age in 18 years and three months in the Scots Fusilier Regiment of Foot Guards on 25th August 1843; being attested the following day. His Army No. 3075 in the Scots Fusilier Guards he served as a private for two and three-quarter years before being promoted to Corporal on 11th June 1846. He was promoted to Sergeant on 22nd July 1851 and Colour-Sergeant on 27th June 1855. He took part in the battles of Balaclava and Inkerman, the siege and fall of Sebastopol, taking part in the sortie on 26th October. At the Battle of Inkerman he received severe gunshot wounds through both legs (he was awarded the Victoria Cross). He also receive the Crimean Medal with three clasps. On 26th June 1856 he was appointed to Cornet and Adjutant in the Land Transport Corps. In 1859 he was the Adjutant of the 10th Regiment (Lincolnshire).
Scotland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at St Mary's Cemetery, South End, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
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