John McDougall (VC)

John McDougall VC (1840- 10 March 1869) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was approximately 20 years old, and a private in the 44th East Essex Regiment (later The Essex Regiment), British Army during the Third China War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 21 August 1860 at the Taku Forts, China, Private McDougall with an officer of his regiment (Robert Montresor Rogers) and a lieutenant of the 67th Regiment (Edmund Henry Lenon) displayed great gallantry in swimming the ditches and entering the North Taku Fort by an embrasure during the assault. They were the first of the British established on the walls of the Fort.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Essex Regiment Museum "(Chelmsford, Essex, England)".

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)

ee also

*List of Scottish Victoria Cross recipients

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/edinburg.htm Location of grave and VC medal] "(Edinburgh)"