Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
War hero to be honoured with memorial
Sergeant saved the lives of his troop
A Glenmavis war hero is to be honoured with a permanent memorial in his home village – a century after he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Sergeant John Carmichael earned the prestigious medal for outstanding bravery and sacrifice for his actions in the Third Battle of Ypres during World War I.
Now officials from Nor th Lanarkshire Council are aiming to trace his relatives – to help determine where in the village the commemorative paving stone should be located, and then to attend its special dedication event in September.
Sergeant Carmichael was recognised for meritorious conduct while serving with the 9th North Staffords and leading a working party clearing the trenches of Zwarteleen in Belgium on September 8 1917.
A grenade was accidentally dislodged and activated by one of his men; and the Airdrie soldier prevented life-threatening danger to his platoon by placing his steel helmet over the device and standing upon it, while telling his comrades to clear the area.
The subsequent explosion blew him out of the trench and caused him serious injuries, breaking an arm and both legs – but he saved the lives of his troops, with no one else being injured in the incident. Sergeant Carmichael – who died in 1977 – will now be honoured with the installation of the commemorative stone in Glenmavis, to be unveiled at a special ceremony exactly 100 years on from his heroic act.
It forms part of a UK-wide project to honour the 628 Victoria Cross recipients of World War I and provide a lasting legacy in their birthplaces, marking the centenary of their acts of gallantry.
The September 8 ceremony will be the second of three to take place in Airdrie – a memorial to Private David Lauder was unveiled at Greengairs, near his Easter Glentore birthplace, in 2015; while a similar tribute will be unveiled next year in honour of fellow Victoria Cross awardee Sergeant John O’Neill, who is also from the town.
Military historian John Love, of Cairnhill, previously told the Advertiser how Sergeant Carmichael was a “hero” of his, having met him as a young boy.
Speaking in 2014 as the centenary of the start of the Great War was marked, the former Airdrie councillor said: “My dad knew him and I was lucky enough to be introduced to him once; it wasn’t until later that I realised exactly who he was and what he did.
“I’m delighted that the local authority have agreed to honour these people; they were all prepared to risk their own lives for the safety of others and, while many people do great deeds, that takes a special kind.”
He added of Sergeant Carmichael’s bravery in 1917: “A few days later he was told that he was going to receive the Victoria Cross, and the following morning his whole squad stood at the bottom of his bed and saluted him – I think that meant more to him than actually getting the Cross.”
Relatives of Sergeant Carmichael are asked to call 01698 302324 or email memberservices@northlan. gov.uk to arrange attendance at the memorial service.