£25 STAR LETTER

Our town will honour brave trio of heroes

There can’t be many towns in Scotland with three Victoria Cross recipients hailing from within its borders, as Carluke has.

Thomas Caldwell was awarded his VC for conspicuous bravery in Audenarde, Belgium on October 31, 1918. While in command of a Lewis gun, Caldwell came under fire from a nearby farm and rushed toward the enemy position, single-handedly capturing it as well as 18 prisoners.

William Angus was also honoured for his actions during the First World War, when he darted into no-man’s land to rescue an injured comrade, fellow Carluke man James Martin. Angus sustained some 40 wounds in the process, including the loss of an eye.

Donald Cameron meanwhile earned his in the Second World War for commanding the midget submarine X6 during Operation Source.

Cameron’s craft evaded German anti-submarine nets and attacked the feared German warship Tirpitz while it lay hidden in the Norwegian fjord of Kafjord.