Hugh McIver VC MM & Bar (21 July 1890 – 2 September 1918) was a Scottish recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

forces. He was 28 years old, and a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

in the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment),

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 23 August 1918 east of

Courcelles-le-Comte Courcelles-le-Comte (; ) is a commune in the department of Pas-de-Calais, France. Geography Courcelles-le-Comte is located 11 miles (17 km) south of Arras at the junction of the D12 and D32 roads. Population Places of interest * The ch ...

, France, Private McIver was employed as a company-runner and under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire carried messages regardless of his own safety. Single-handed he pursued an enemy scout into a machine-gun post and having killed six of the garrison, captured 20 prisoners and two machine-guns. Later he succeeded, at great personal risk, in stopping the fire of a British tank which was directed in error against our own troops. He was killed in action 10 days later near Courcelles, France, on 2 September 1918. His

is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum,

Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...

, Scotland. Born in

Linwood, Renfrewshire Linwood () is a town in Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland, west of Glasgow. It is about northeast of Johnstone and west of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Paisley close to the Black Cart Water and the A737 road. Etymology Linwood ...

, he spent much of his life in Newton (

Cambuslang Cambuslang (, from ) is a town on the south-eastern outskirts of Greater Glasgow, Scotland. With approximately 30,000 residents, it is the 27th-largest town in Scotland by population, although, never having had a town hall, it may also be cons ...

) and is commemorated in both towns."Touching tribute to brave Linwood soldier 100 years on from his Victoria Cross honour"
Kenneth Speirs, ''Daily Record'', 24 August 2018 In 2015, Kier Homes named a street in their Hawkhead Village development in Paisley, Hugh McIver Avenue, in memory of him.

References

Bibliography

* *''Scotland's Forgotten Valour'' (Graham Ross, 1995) {{DEFAULTSORT:Mciver, Hugh 1890 births 1918 deaths Military personnel from Renfrewshire British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Scots soldiers British Army personnel of World War I British military personnel killed in World War I Recipients of the Military Medal British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Scottish military personnel killed in action Burials in Hauts-de-France People from Cambuslang Military personnel from South Lanarkshire People from Linwood, Renfrewshire