Robert Dunsire

He carried wounded comrades to safety under heavy rifle fire

Robert Anderson Dunsire was born in Fife in 1891. A miner and talented brass musician, he married Catherine Pitt in 1914. He enlisted in the Royal Scots in January 1915 and reached France that July.

At Hill 70 near Loos on 26 September 1915, he went into the ground between the lines under heavy fire to recover a wounded man. Hearing another casualty nearer the German positions, he returned and carried him to safety as well. His Victoria Cross recognised these rescues shortly before an enemy attack crossed the same ground.

Dunsire returned home on leave, received the freedom of Kirkcaldy and was decorated by King George V in December. Back in France in January 1916, he was severely wounded when a mortar bomb struck his dugout. He died at Mazingarbe on 30 January 1916 and was buried there.

Victoria Cross citation London Gazette, 18 November 1915, page 11449:

For most conspicuous bravery on Hill 70 on 26th September, 1915.

Private Dunsire went out under very heavy fire and rescued a wounded man from between the firing lines. Later, when another man considerably nearer the German lines was heard shouting for help, he crawled out again with utter disregard to the enemy’s fire and carried him in also. Shortly afterwards the Germans attacked over this ground.