John Manson Craig

Rescuing wounded comrades under fierce enemy fire near Gaza.

John Manson Craig was born on 5 March 1896 at Innergeldie, near Comrie in Perthshire. He attended Morrison's Academy in Crieff and belonged to the local Scout troop. On 6 April 1915 he enlisted in the Cameron Highlanders. Serving with the 6th Battalion in France, he fought at Loos that September before receiving a commission in the Royal Scots Fusiliers in November 1915.

Craig subsequently served with the 1/5th Battalion in Egypt and Palestine. He survived the sinking of the troopship Ivernia after it was torpedoed off Greece on 1 January 1917. Wounded in May, he recovered sufficiently to rejoin his battalion before the action that earned him the Victoria Cross.

On 5 June 1917, south-west of Gaza, Second Lieutenant Craig led a rescue party after an Ottoman attack on an advanced post. Under rifle, machine-gun and artillery fire, he brought a wounded non-commissioned officer and medical officer under cover. Although wounded himself, he stayed to protect the casualties. His conduct earned the Victoria Cross.

Evacuated to Alexandria, Craig later joined the Royal Flying Corps. He was seconded to the Royal Air Force in September 1918 and became a flying instructor. King George V presented his Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace in December 1919. He resigned his commission in 1921, studied agriculture at Edinburgh and continued his training with an Empire Cotton Growing Scholarship at Trinity College, Cambridge. Joining the Sudan Plantations Syndicate in 1923, he worked as a cotton inspector and managed a seed farm. In 1931 he married Elizabeth Melville Henderson; they had twin sons and a daughter.

Returning to Britain in 1940, Craig entered the RAF Volunteer Reserve and served with the RAF Police. He became a war-substantive squadron leader in April 1945 and relinquished his Assistant Provost Marshal appointment that September. When he relinquished his reserve commission in February 1954, he received official permission to retain the rank of wing commander.

Craig settled in Comrie, enjoying golf and gardening, and attended Victoria Cross gatherings, including the 1956 centenary celebrations. He died at Crieff Cottage Hospital in February 1970, aged 73. After cremation at Perth, his ashes were placed in the family plot at Comrie Cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 31 July 1917, published 2 August 1917, issue 30215, pages 7905-7906.

2nd Lt. John Manson Craig, R. Sc. Fus.

For most conspicuous bravery on the occasion of an advanced post being rushed by a large party of the enemy. This officer immediately organised a rescue party, and the enemy was tracked over broken country back to his trenches. 2nd Lt. Craig then set his party to work removing the dead and wounded.

During the course of this operation his men came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire. An N.C.O. was wounded, and the Medical Officer who went out to his aid was also severely wounded. 2nd Lt. Craig at once went to their assistance and succeeded in taking the N.C.O. under cover. He then returned for the Medical Officer, and whilst taking him to shelter was himself wounded.

Nevertheless, by great perseverance, he succeeded in rescuing him also.

As the enemy continued a heavy fire and in addition turned on shrapnel and high explosives, 2nd Lt. Craig scooped cover for the wounded and thus was the means of saving their lives.

These latter acts of bravery occurred in broad daylight, under full observation of the enemy and within close range.

On three previous occasions this officer has behaved in a conspicuously brave manner, and has shown an exceptional example of courage and resource.