Forgotten tribute to VC war hero
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A TRIBUTE to one of two Caithness soldiers awarded the Victoria Cross appears to have been forgotten by Thurso residents w ho are planning to organise memorials to both men.
In Wednesday’s Caithness Courier it was reported that Alexander Glasgow is in early talks about organising tributes for VC war heroes Jock Campbell, from Thurso, and David Mackay, from Howe, Lyth, with assistance from Thurso Royal British Legion.
It was claimed there are no such memorials in Caithness for both men.
However, eagle eye reader Calum Mackenzie, of Donald Grant Road, Thurso, revealed a memorial bench dedicated in 1950 in tribute to Major General Campbell already exists in the town at Victoria Walk.
Mr Mackenzie has also responded to letters which have appeared in the John O’Groat Journal regarding queries about Jock Campbell.
"I am not an expert regarding his career but I have always been aware that there has been a bench and plaque at Victoria Walk. It has been there for over 60 years and I guess it has just been a case of it has been there so long that people have forgotten it’s there."
Jock Campbell was born on January 10, 1894, in Thurso and was commissioned to the Royal Horse Artillery, becoming a first-class horseman and artillery officer. He was awarded the medal in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty at Sidi Rezeghi in November, 1941, when his small force held important ground despite coming under sustained fire from large numbers of tanks and infantry for two days.
A memorial to Campbell stands in his old school, Sedbergh in Cumbria, commemorating his brave deeds with his medal on display at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich.
However, it has not been confirmed if any memorial exists for David Mackay who was born on November 23, 1831, at Howe.
He was the son of a farm labourer who enlisted in the 93rd Highlanders in December 1850 and served in the Crimean War.
He was awarded the VC for an action during the Indian Mutiny for great personal gallantry at Secundrabagh, Lucknow, on November 16, 1857. He was elected by the private soldiers of the regiment after being severely wounded afterwards at the capture of the Shah Nujjif.
He died on November 18, 1880, and is buried at an unmarked grave in a cemetery in Lesmahagow. The whereabouts of his VC is unknown.
Mackay sold it while he was still alive and it was auctioned around 1910.
The tribute project has received the backing of Thurso Community Council and Thurso RBLS with vice-president Alex Cameron assisting Mr Glasgow with research.
