John Crawford Buchan


John Crawford Buchan was a Scottish 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.
Born on 10 October 1892 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, he was the son of the local newspaper editor. He worked as a reporter before enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps in the ranks when World War I broke out. He was later commissioned as a Territorial Force officer into the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 25 January 1917.

World War I

Buchan was 25 years old, and a second lieutenant in the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, British Army, attached to 8th Battalion during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for an act he performed on 21 March 1918 east of Marteville, France. He died the following day, 22 March 1918.

Citation

He was buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, Roisel, Somme, France

Medals

His medals are in the collection of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle, Scotland.