Village honours war hero who won DCM
Gold watch for Acting Sergeant Greenwood
A large audience gathered in Cambusbarron 100 years ago this week to honour one of the village’s World War One heroes.
Acting Sergeant Thomas Greenwood, of Dumbartonshire Battalion of A&SH, had been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallantry.
It was decided to acknowledge his bravery with a reception and presentation paid for from the Stirling Heroes Fund, set up earlier in the war by Stirling Town Council to mark the achievements of those from the area awarded top military honours.
Sgt Greenwood, son of Mr John Greenwood, draper, Cambusbarron, was a native of the village although at the time the war broke out he was working as a gardener at Meikle Hill, Kirkintilloch.
Before an enthusiastic gathering at the Village Hall, the village’s schoolmaster, Mr Grierson, gave an account of how the sergeant had won the medal on May 10, 1915, at Hooge during the second Battle of Ypres.
On that morning, the Argylls were sent up to support the Cameron Highlanders who were being heavily shelled.
On their way forward, the Argylls themselves came under heavy fire and lost a number of officers, noncommissioned officers and men. They gained their objective but afterwards were so heavily gassed they were ordered to retire, which they did.
That night, Sgt Greenwood and 20 men were asked to return to the trench vacated in the afternoon, which they did.
Next morning, they were relieved by another battalion but on their way back, came under heavy fire, explained the Observer, adding: “It was just at this point Sgt Greenwood kept his men together and by great gallantry and coolness saved the lives of men by carrying those who had been severely wounded to a place of safety.”
The official citation read: “For conspicuous gallantry and coolness in keeping his platoon together after his officer and the other noncommissioned officers had been killed or wounded. He also showed great coolness and bravery in bringing in wounded under heavy fire.”
His was presented by Mrs Murray, of Polmaise, with a gold watch. She said that in a war in which thousands of men were engaged, battle honours were not easily won.
She said the sergeant had “done well” in more ways than one. Not only had he won the DCM but he had also given the country six sons and she hoped that they would follow him into the same profession.
Sgt Greenwood admitted he did not have the “gift of the gab” but thanked everyone for the presentation and said he would “cherish it next to the honour he had on his breast”. A concert concluded the evening.