Thomas Caldwell (soldier)

He rushed the defended farm and captured its enemy garrison.

Thomas Caldwell was born at Carluke, Lanarkshire, on 6 February 1894. A farm worker and carter, he enlisted in the Lanarkshire Yeomanry and served at Gallipoli in 1915. His unit later became part of the Royal Scots Fusiliers and went to France.

Near Audenarde on 31 October 1918, Caldwell commanded a Lewis-gun section clearing a farmhouse when another farm opened intense fire. He rushed the position alone and captured eighteen prisoners. Removing that obstacle enabled his section to take many more prisoners and machine guns. His initiative earned the Victoria Cross, presented in May 1919.

He became a company sergeant-major and returned to Carluke after discharge. He married Jeanie Kerr in 1921 and emigrated with his family to Australia in 1927. Employed by the Electricity Trust of South Australia, he retired as a line foreman in 1959. He died at Adelaide in June 1969 and was cremated at Centennial Park.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For most conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack near Audenarde on the 31st October, 1918, when in command of a Lewis gun section engaged in clearing a farmhouse. When his section came under intense fire at close range from another farm, Sjt. Caldwell rushed towards the farm, and, in spite of very heavy fire, reached the enemy position, which he captured single-handed, together with 18 prisoners. This gallant and determined exploit removed a serious obstacle from the line of advance, saved many casualties, and led to the capture by his section of about 70 prisoners, eight machine guns and one trench mortar

Fourth Supplement to The London Gazette of 3 January 1919. 6 January 1919, Numb. 31108, p. 307