Local boys, local heroes
Their bravery on the front line saved the lives of dozens of their fellow soldiers.
Cambuslang men John Brown Hamilton and Hugh McIver showed immense bravery in the thick of battle in France and Belgium, putting themselves in the line of fire to save their comrades.
Their courageous efforts were rightly rewarded with the Victoria Cross, and both are remembered with commemorative VC paving stones at Cambuslang remembrance garden.
Lance Corporal John Brown Hamilton had been issued the Victoria Cross – the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy – for his actions during the battle of Passchendaele on September 26, 1917, during World War I.
A member of the Highland Light Infantry, the then 21-year-old carried rounds of ammunition to fellow soldiers during enemy fire and in full view of snipers.
His actions meant that the battalion was able to sustain its position on the front line north of the YpresMenin Road, Belgium.
To mark the 100th anniversary of his heroic actions, a service was held in Cambuslang Parish Church last year when his centenary VC stone – issued by the UK Government to the birthplaces of VC recipients – was blessed.
The event was organised by the Cambuslang remembrance garden group and paid homage to a man who returned from war to serve as an active member of the community.
John’s grandson, Gordon Rogers, revealed how his war hero grandfather was very humble about his bravery, never properly explaining his actions on the battlefields.
The 69-year-old, who lives in Carnoustie, said: “When I was about 12 or 13 I asked him, ‘what did you do to get the Victoria Cross?’
“He replied, ‘I saved the regiment with an act of heroism ... I shot the cook!’
“Years later I asked him, ‘what did actually happen?’
“He said, ‘When the lads were in the trenches and running out of food, I would get a dixie full of custard and bring it to them’.
“That was code because it wasn’t custard he brought them, it was ammunition.”
John was also awarded the Oak Leaf for gallantry in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, where he was wounded.
After recovering at home, he was posted to Belgium for the battle of Passchendaele.
John lived in Cambuslang until he died at the age of 76, and was very much involved in the community all his life.
John’s Victoria Cross is displayed at the National War Museum of Scotland at Edinburgh Castle, along with Hugh McIver’s.
Hugh was born in 1890 in Renfrewshire but he and his family moved to Dunlop Street in Newton when he was a kid.
He spent his early life working in the mines but joined up to the Royal Scots 2nd Battalion two weeks after war was declared.
He won his first Military Medal in July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme and second two years later.
On August 23, 1918, Hugh was a company runner delivering messages in battles and criss-crossing the trenches.
Single-handed, he followed a German scout to a machine gun post, killed six soldiers, captured 20 and carried off two machine guns.
Later he saved British troops who were mistakenly being fired on by a British tank, so called “friendly fire.”
He ran to tell them of their mistake and saved many lives. It was an action that would win him the VC.
Sadly, Hugh did not survive to see his heroics celebrated as he was killed by a sniper on September 2, 1918.
Hugh was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for actions near the end of WWI.
Many of Hugh’s relatives are still living in Cambuslang and will proudly mark his actions by attending services this weekend.
His great-niece, Agnes Kellock, said: “It’s really quite emotional each year.”
Last month, the Reformer told the remarkable story about piper James Cleland Richardson, who had links to Rutherglen, being awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
The 20-year-old soldier inspired his comrades by bravely playing his pipes on the battlefield while bullets and shells flew past. James then helped escort an injured comrade and some prisoners, but after returning to recover his bagpipes he was killed.
When I was 12, I asked him, ‘what did you do to get the Victoria Cross’?