John Crawford Buchan
Second Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attached. to 8th Battalion
- Register No.
- 141 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attached. to 8th Battalion (register: Princess Louises's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)) all Princess Louises's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) VCs →
- Date of action
- 21 March 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 22nd May 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
- Born
- 10th October 1892 at Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland took
- Died
- 22nd March 1918 near Marteville, France. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Medal held by
- the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Digest of citation
On 21st March 1918 east of Marteville, France, Second Lieutenant Buchan, although wounded early in the day, insisted on remaining with his platoon which was suffering heavy casualties from most severe shell fire. He continually visited all his posts, encouraging his men in the face of the approaching enemy and heavy machine-gun fire. When called on to surrender, he fought his way back to the support line where he held out until dusk. He then withdrew as ordered, but refused to have his injuries attended to. He was eventually completely cut off and was last seen fighting valiantly against overwhelming odds
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
BUCHAN, John Crawford. (reg No. 141)
Second Lieutenant 7th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attached. to 8th Battalion.
London Gazetted on 22nd May 1918.
VC Medal's Custodian is the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum.
Born on 10th October 1892 at Alloa, Clackmannan, Scotland took.
Died on 22nd March 1918 near Marteville, France. (killed in action).
Digest of Citation reads: On 21st March 1918 east of Marteville, France, Second Lieutenant Buchan, although wounded early in the day, insisted on remaining with his platoon which was suffering heavy casualties from most severe shell fire. He continually visited all his posts, encouraging his men in the face of the approaching enemy and heavy machine-gun fire. When called on to surrender, he fought his way back to the support line where he held out until dusk. He then withdrew as ordered, but refused to have his injuries attended to. He was eventually completely cut off and was last seen fighting valiantly against overwhelming odds.
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