The First World War produced many Victoria Cross winners, among them Dunfermline’s John Erskine.
John rescued three men from No Man’s Land as the German troops shot at them.
The citation for the Victoria Cross, in the London Gazette, reads “For most conspicuous bravery.
“Whilst the near lip of a crater, caused by the explosion of a large enemy mine, was being consolidated, Acting Sergeant Erskine rushed out under continuous fire with utter disregard of danger and rescued a wounded sergeant and a private.
“Later, seeing his officer, who was believed to be dead, show signs of movement, he ran out to him, bandaged his head, and remained with him for fully an hour, though repeatedly fired at, whilst a shallow trench was being dug to them.
“He then assisted in bringing in his officer, shielding him with his own body in order to lessen the chance of his being hit again.”
John was killed leading an attack at Arras on April 14 1917.
