Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn

A desperate moment under enemy fire at the Battle of Elandslaagte transformed Captain Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn into one of the celebrated Victoria Cross recipients of the Second Boer War.

Born on 27 November 1870 in Clapham, London, Meiklejohn was educated at Fettes College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders on 17 June 1891, he saw active service during the Chitral Relief Expedition of 1895 and the North-West Frontier campaigns of 1897–1898. He was wounded during the storming of the Dargai Heights on 20 October 1897.

On 21 October 1899, Meiklejohn was serving as a captain with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, at Elandslaagte, South Africa. After British troops captured the main Boer position, a party of Gordons came under devastating crossfire while preparing to assault another position. With their leaders among the casualties, the soldiers began to falter.

Meiklejohn rushed forward, rallied the men and led them towards the enemy. His leadership helped restore the attack, but he was desperately wounded in four places. His injuries eventually required the amputation of his right arm.

For this extraordinary act of courage, he received the Victoria Cross, announced in The London Gazette on 20 July 1900, Issue 27212, page 4509. Queen Victoria personally presented the decoration at Windsor Castle on 15 December 1900.

Despite losing an arm, Meiklejohn continued his military career. His subsequent appointments included garrison adjutant at Saint Helena, staff duties and instructional service. He attained the rank of major in November 1909.

On 28 June 1913, while riding in London's Hyde Park, his horse bolted towards children and their nurse. Meiklejohn diverted it into railings to avoid striking them, suffering fatal injuries. He died at Middlesex Hospital on 4 July 1913 and was buried with military honours at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey.

His Victoria Cross and campaign medals are preserved at the Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen, a lasting record of his service and courage.