Ross Tollerton

He stayed beside a wounded officer for three days in danger.

Ross Anderson Tollerton was born at Hurlford, Ayrshire, on 6 May 1890. He joined the Army in 1905 and served in South Africa and Asia before entering the reserve in 1912. He then worked at an Irvine shipyard and married Agnes Muir in 1913. Recalled in 1914, he went to France with the 1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

On 14 September 1914 near Chivy during the Battle of the Aisne, Tollerton carried Lieutenant Matheson to a safer position under heavy fire. Although wounded in the head and hand, he returned to the firing line until the battalion withdrew. He then went back to the officer and remained with him for three days until both were rescued. King George V presented his Victoria Cross in 1915.

After recovery he returned to service and became a sergeant. On leaving the regular Army, he worked as janitor at Bank Street School, Irvine, and served as company sergeant-major in the local Territorial Royal Scots Fusiliers. He died at Irvine in May 1931 and was buried at Knadgerhill Cemetery.

Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 14th September, 1914, at the battle of the Aisne. He carried a wounded Officer under heavy fire as far as he was able into a place of greater safety; then, although himself wounded in the head and hand, he struggled back to the firing line, where he remained till his Battalion retired, when he returned to the wounded Officer, and lay beside him for three days until they were both rescued.