John Carstairs McNeill

Infobox Military Person
name= John Carstairs McNeill
lived= 28 March 1831 - 25 May 1904


caption=John Carstairs McNeill
nickname=
placeofbirth=Colonsay, Argyllshire, Scotland
placeofdeath=St James Palace, London
allegiance= United Kingdom
branch=British Army
serviceyears=
rank=Major General
unit=
commands=
battles=
awards=VC, GCVO, KCB, KCMG
relations=
laterwork=Equerry to Queen Victoria

Major General Sir John Carstairs McNeill, VC, GCVO, KCB, KCMG, (28 March 1831, Colonsay, Argyllshire, Scotland - 25 May 1904) 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.

He was the son of Anne Elizabeth McNeill nee Carstairs, and Alexander McNeill (1791-1850) brother of Duncan McNeill, Lord Colonsay (1793-1874) and of Sir John McNeill (1795-1883).

Details

He was 33 years old, and a lieutenant colonel in the 107th Regiment (Bengal Infantry - later The Royal Sussex Regiment), while serving as an Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 30 March 1864 near Ohaupo, New Zealand, Lieutenant Colonel McNeill was proceeding to Te Awamutu on duty, with two privates when they saw a party of the enemy in front. The colonel sent one of the privates back to bring up the infantry, but before help could arrive the officer and private were attacked by about 50 natives. In trying to escape the private's horse fell, throwing its rider, and the colonel, seeing his plight, returned, caught the horse and helped the man to mount. Although the enemy were very close and firing sharply, by galloping hard they managed to get away.

He later achieved the rank of major general, and in retirement became an equerry to Queen Victoria.

References

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

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/strathcl.htm Location of grave and VC medal in Strathclyde]
* [http://www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk/documents/RoyalSussex/RoyalSussexVCWinners.pdf Profile from Eastbourne Museums]