John Frederick Mccrea
Surgeon, 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry. South African Forces
- Register No.
- 769 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Surgeon all Surgeons →
- Unit
- 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry. South African Forces all 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 January 1881 on this day → all of 1881 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Basuto War
- London Gazette
- 28th June 1881 on this day → all of 1881 →
- Born
- 2nd April 1854 at St Peter's Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands
- Died
- 16th July 1894 Kokstad, East Griqualand. South Africa
- Memorial / grave
- at Kokstad Cemetery, East Griqualand, South Africa
Digest of citation
At Tweefontein in Basutoland, South Africa on the 14th in January 1881 a fierce enemy attack had the burghers driven back, 16 of them being killed and 21 wounded. Being the only doctor present and himself wounded in the breastbone which he attended to himself, Surgeon McRae took the casualties into shelter, continuing to attend to their wounded throughout the day. There is no doubt that the suffering would have been greater and an increased loss of life had it not been for the devotion to duty of Surgeon McRae
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
McCREA, John Frederick. (reg No. 769).
Surgeon. 1st Cape Mounted Yeomanry. South African Forces.
London Gazetted on 28th June 1881.
Born on 2nd April 1854 at St Peter's Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
Died on 16th July 1894 Kokstad, East Griqualand. South Africa.
Memorial on grave at Kokstad Cemetery, East Griqualand, South Africa.
Digest of Citation reads: At Tweefontein in Basutoland, South Africa on the 14th in January 1881 a fierce enemy attack had the burghers driven back, 16 of them being killed and 21 wounded. Being the only doctor present and himself wounded in the breastbone which he attended to himself, Surgeon McRae took the casualties into shelter, continuing to attend to their wounded throughout the day. There is no doubt that the suffering would have been greater and an increased loss of life had it not been for the devotion to duty of Surgeon McRae.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Kokstad Cemetery, East Griqualand, South Africa
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