Adam Archibald (14 January 1879 - 10 March 1957) was a Scottish First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
In 1915, Archibald served with the 7th Durham Light Infantry before transferring to the 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers. At the age of 39, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for action while his unit was attempting to bridge the Sambre-Oise Canal. Archibald received his medal from King George V at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. From his citation:
On 4 November 1918 near Ors, France, Sapper Archibald was with a party building a floating bridge across the canal. He was foremost in the work under a very 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. Immediately afterwards Sapper Archibald collapsed from gas poisoning.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.
Adam Archibald died at his home in Leith at the age of 76.
References
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Burial location of Adam Archibald "Edinburgh"
- Location of Adam Archibald's Victoria Cross "Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham"
- Find-A-Grave profile for Adam Archibald
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