Samuel McGaw

Wounded in dense bush, he led his section through the battle

Samuel McGaw was born in Kirkmichael, Ayrshire, in 1838. A mason before enlistment, he joined the 42nd Royal Highlanders in 1857. He later served in India and was at Peshawar when he re-engaged in 1867. He returned to Britain with the regiment in 1868. He rose through the non-commissioned ranks, experiencing reductions as well as promotions, and became a lance-sergeant before the Ashanti expedition.

At Amoaful on 31 January 1874, McGaw was badly wounded early in the fighting. He nevertheless continued leading his section through dense bush throughout the battle, setting an example that earned the Victoria Cross. Queen Victoria presented the decoration at Osborne in April 1874.

McGaw continued serving with the 42nd and attained sergeant. After a posting to Malta, the regiment moved to Cyprus in 1878. On 22 July he died during the march from Larnaca in intense heat. His remains were later reburied in the British cemetery at Kyrenia.