Hero won’t be forgotten
The tale of footballer turned war herowillie Angus is one of the most gallant in British military history.
Willie was born in Armadale,west Lothian, in 1888 before the family moved to Carluke where he called home until the end of his life.
He worked as a miner before becoming a professional footballer with Celtic.
Released in 1914, he joinedwishawthistle, the club he was captaining when war was declared in August. As a member of local Territorial battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, he was mobilised immediately
On June 12, 1915, at Givenchy-lès-la-bassée, France, Lance-corporal Angus voluntarily left his trench to rescue wounded Lieutenant James Martin, who was lying within a few yards of the enemy’s position and had been injured by a mine.to do this he had to travel through 64 metres in no-man’s land under heavy bomb and rifle fire, and sustained about 40 wounds, some of them very serious including the loss of his left eye.
His commanding office said there had been no braver deed in the history of the British Army.
After the rescue he was taken to a military hospital in Boulogne-surMer, where he learned of his award of thevictoria Cross. After two months in hospital he returned to London where he was given thevictoria Cross by King Georgev at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace.
When the King commented on his 40 injuries,willie Angus was said to have answered: “Aye, Sir, but only 13 were serious”.
After he had returned to Carluke, he was given a hero’s welcome and received standing ovations at Celtic Park and Ibrox. Following the war, he started business as a goods carrier. He married and had five children. He also became president of Carluke Rovers FC, a position he held until his death in 1959.
Each year of his life, he received a telegram of thanks from the family of the man he rescued.
He is buried, together with his wife Mary, at Wilton Cemetery, in Carluke.