Honoured by his home town, only PC to win VC in First World War
THE only Scottish policeman to win a Victoria Cross during the First World War is to be commemorated in the town where he was born.
Constable John ‘Jock’ McAulay received Britain’s highest award for gallantry for his remarkable bravery at the Battle of Cambrai, on November 27, 1917.
The policeman, from Kinghorn, Fife, survived exploding shells and a ‘tornado of machine-gun fire’ to carry his wounded company commander to safety. He then singlehandedly inflicted heavy losses on the attacking Germans, who outnumbered his fellow Scots Guards.
On Sunday, November 26, a commemorative service will be held at Kinghorn Parish Church. A piper from the Scots Guards will then
‘Utter disregard of danger’
lead a procession to Kinghorn War Memorial, where a stone will be unveiled to mark the policeman’s act of bravery.
Around 40 of Sgt McAulay’s descendants are set to attend – travelling from as far as Australia and America – as well as Scots Guards and dignitaries.
Alan McIlravie, provost of the Royal Burgh of Kinghorn Community Council, said yesterday: ‘We are intensely proud that a son of Kinghorn distinguished himself so well in the horror of the First World War. He was quite incredible, and an example to everyone.’
Miner’s son Sgt McAulay was one of more than 700 Glasgow police who volunteered for military service in the early weeks of the Great War. By 1915, his bravery had seen him promoted three times, to acting sergeant. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’ at the Battle of Ypres in July 1916.
Sgt McAulay won the VC ‘for conspicuous bravery and initiative in attack’ at Cambrai. His platoon was pinned down by German machine gun fire. When his commander, Lieutenant the Honourable Arthur Kinnaird, was wounded, Sgt McAulay carried him to shelter where he seized a machine gun and, as German soldiers came over the ridge, stopped their attack.
He then carried Lt Kinnaird another 500 yards. Twice knocked down by explosions, he killed two Germans who tried to stop him.
Sgt McAulay is said to have ‘accounted for 50 of the enemy’.
The citation for his VC notes that he showed ‘utter disregard of danger’.
After the war, Sgt McAulay went back to City of Glasgow Police and became an Inspector. He died in 1956, aged 67.
Alastair Dinsmor, curator of the Glasgow Police Museum, said: ‘John McAulay was the only Scottish policeman to win the VC, so that makes him very special to us.
‘It raised everyone’s spirits in 1917 when it was announced that one of the lads had achieved fame and glory in his actions and saved many lives.’