John Carmichael
Sergeant, 9th Battalion The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales)
- Register No.
- 185 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 9th Battalion The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales) (register: Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment)) all Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regiment) VCs →
- Date of action
- 8 September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 17th October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 1st April 1893 at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died
- 26th December 1977 at New Monkland, Airdrie, Lanarkshire,
- Memorial / grave
- at New Monkland Parish Churchyard and the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Digest of citation
On 8th September 1917 near Hill 60, Zwarteleen, Belgium, when excavating a trench, Sergeant Carmichael saw that a grenade had been unearthed and had started to burn. He immediately rushed to the spot shouting to his men to get clear, put his steel helmet over the grenade and then stood on the helmet. The grenade exploded and blew him out of the trench. He could have thrown the bomb out of the trench but realised that by doing so he would have endangered the lives of the men working on the top. He was seriously injured
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CARMICHAEL, John. (reg No. 185).
Sergeant 9th Battalion The North Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales).
London Gazetted on 17th October 1917.
Born on 1st April 1893 at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 26th December 1977 at New Monkland, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Memorials on grave at New Monkland Parish Churchyard and the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire.
Digest of Citation reads: On 8th September 1917 near Hill 60, Zwarteleen, Belgium, when excavating a trench, Sergeant Carmichael saw that a grenade had been unearthed and had started to burn. He immediately rushed to the spot shouting to his men to get clear, put his steel helmet over the grenade and then stood on the helmet. The grenade exploded and blew him out of the trench. He could have thrown the bomb out of the trench but realised that by doing so he would have endangered the lives of the men working on the top. He was seriously injured.
Additional information:. Sergeant, Carmichael also held the Military Medal (MM).
Additional information
Sergeant, Carmichael also held the Military Medal (MM).
Scotland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at New Monkland Parish Churchyard and the Garrison Church, Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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