Roderick McGregor

He rushed enemy rifle pits and silenced their murderous fire

Roderick McGregor was born at Dunain, near Inverness, in 1822. A labourer, he enlisted in the Rifle Brigade in 1842 and served in North America before the Crimean War.

During the siege of Sevastopol in 1855 he distinguished himself in attacks on Russian rifle pits. On 22 April, he joined the men who rushed a position after a bandsman had been killed while fetching water. In July, working as a sharpshooter, he crossed exposed ground and took another pit occupied by two Russian marksmen. He received the Victoria Cross at the first general investiture in Hyde Park on 26 June 1857.

He subsequently served in India, including the capture of Lucknow, and became a corporal. Reduced to private in 1863, he was discharged as unfit later that year. In 1864 he married Isabella McDougall. He returned to the Inverness area and died at Bunloit in August 1888. He was buried in St Mary’s churchyard at Drumnadrochit.

Victoria Cross citation

For courageous conduct when employed as a sharpshooter in the advanced trenches in the month of July, 1855; a Rifle Pit was occupied by two Russians, who annoyed our troops by their fire. Private McGregor crossed the open space under fire, and taking cover under a rock, dislodged them, and occupied the pit.