David Lauder

He covered a live grenade, saving his comrades at Gallipoli.

David Ross Lauder was born near Airdrie, Scotland, on 31 January 1894. Before the First World War he worked as a cattleman and steelworks labourer. He married Dorina McGuigan in February 1913. He served as Private 7709 in the 1/4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, part of the 52nd Division, which went to Gallipoli in 1915.

On 13 August 1915, near the Vineyard, south-west of Krithia, Lauder was in a bombing party trying to recapture a sap, a narrow forward trench. One of his grenades failed to clear the parapet and dropped among his companions. With no time to smother it, he placed his foot over the bomb. The explosion destroyed his foot, but his immediate act protected the other men from injury. He was evacuated and discharged from the Army. His Victoria Cross was announced in January 1917, and King George V presented it at Buckingham Palace on 3 March.

Disability did not end his working life. During the remaining war years he worked in a Glasgow munitions factory and as a cinema operator. By 1921 he was an electric crane operator for David Colville & Sons. After his first marriage ended, he married Rachel Bates in 1929. He later became a Post Office telephone supervisor.

In April 1937 he helped injured passengers after a Glasgow tram collided with a bus. During the Second World War he combined telephone work with air raid precautions duties. He retired from the Post Office in 1960 and subsequently worked part time as a bakery nightwatchman. Lauder died at home in Glasgow on 4 June 1972, aged 78. He was cremated at Daldowie, where his ashes were scattered.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery when with a bombing party retaking a sap. Pte. Lauder threw a bomb, which failed to clear the parapet and fell amongst the bombing party. There was no time to smother the bomb, and Pte. Lauder at once put his foot on it, thereby localising the explosion. His foot was blown off, but the remainder of the party through this act of sacrifice escaped unhurt.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 12 January 1917. 13 January 1917, Numb. 29901, p. 559