James McKechnie

Amid the broken formation, he rallied men round the Colours.

James McKechnie was born in Paisley, Scotland, in June 1826, the son of Colin McKechnie and Jane McGregor. He married Elizabeth McLean and enlisted in the Scots Fusilier Guards in 1845. By the Crimean War he was a sergeant in the regiment.

At the Battle of the Alma on 20 September 1854, the Guards' advance became disordered under fire. Confusion increased as men of another regiment fell back through their formation. The Queen's Colour had its staff broken and its silk repeatedly struck. McKechnie advanced with his revolver raised and rallied the men around the Colours, helping restore the battalion's cohesion during the attack. He was wounded in the action.

His gallantry was recognized in the first group of Victoria Cross awards. Queen Victoria presented his medal at Hyde Park on 26 June 1857. His Crimean service also brought the British Crimea Medal and Turkish Crimea Medal. After his military service he returned to Scotland. He died in Glasgow on 5 July 1886 and was buried in the Eastern Necropolis. His Victoria Cross became part of the Scots Guards' collection at Wellington Barracks in London.

Official Victoria Cross citation

When the formation of the Regiment was disordered at Alma, for having behaved gallantly, and rallied the men round the Colours.

Supplement to The London Gazette of 24 February 1857. 24 February 1857, Numb. 21971, p. 657