Dedication stone for VC medallist French visitors at ceremony for Perthshire war hero
Perth and Kinross Provost, Dennis Melloy (centre left) is joined by the Mayor of Famars (centre right) and other dignitaries at the paving stone honouring Lt Bissett VC Major WD Bissett A Perthshire war hero was honoured in St Martins near Guildtown by the dedication of a stone to remember his bravery.
Commemorative paving stones are being laid across the UK for Victoria Cross recipients to mark the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I.
On October 28, a special Victoria Cross paving stone was unveiled by the Provost of Perth and Kinross and representatives from France in honour of Major William Davidson Bissett VC’s bravery.
Born in St Martin’s in 1893, Major Bissett was a 25 year-old lieutenant in the 1/6th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders during World War I when he was awarded the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces.
On October 25 1918 east of Maing, France, Lieutenant Bissett was commanding a platoon, but owing to casualties took command and handled it with great skill when an enemy counterattack turned his left flank.
When the ammunition was exhausted, Lieutenant Bissett mounted the railway embankment under heavy fire and calling for a bayonet charge and drove back the enemy, saving a critical situation.
Major Bissett died in 1971 and is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling Castle.
A hundred years after the incident in Maing, there was a church service at St Martin’s Church, followed by a ceremony at the WW1 Memorial in the village, where Major Bissett’s Victoria Cross paving stone was unveiled.
Perth and Kinross Provost, Dennis Melloy said: “It was an honour to be asked to unveil Major Bissett’s commemorative paving stone in the company of representatives of Major’s Bissett’s Regiment in 1918, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
“It should not be forgotten that Major Bissett also served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Pioneer Corps in World War II and it was during this campaign that he quite rightly achieved the rank of major.”
Also present at the ceremony were the mayor and deputy mayor of the town of Famars, near Maing in France and members of the Famars History and Archaeology Circle, in recognition the bravery of Scottish soldiers who fought to free France one hundred years ago.
A commemorative stone will be laid in Famars on November 10, to honour William Davidson Bissett, William Philips and the Scottish Regiments who fought at the Battle of Famars in 1918.