Lieutenant James Craig VC Victoria Cross

Campaign:

Crimean War

Died:

18.3.1861

James Craig was born on 10 September 1824, the son of James Craig and Ann (nee Guthrie), at Balbeggie in the Parish of St Martin's, Kinnoul, Perthshire, Scotland. He was baptised two days later at the Kirk of Collace by the Rev Rogers of Perth. Craig enlisted on 25 August 1843 with the Scots Fusilier Regiment of Foot Guards (now the Scots Guards) and attested to the same regiment at Perth the next day.
Died 18 March 1861 (aged 36) Swartkops River, Near Grahamstown, South Africa

Sergeant James Craig VC
(From Scots Guards 1642 - 1914 by Major General Sir F Maurice, page 538)
On the Regiment's last day in the trenches, September 7, 1855
Captain D. F . Buckley was on duty in the advanced sap before
the Redan. He was killed while visiting the sentries in front
of our works. Two of the sentries, Privates Allen and Sankey,
were wounded at the same time. Sergeant James Craig and
Drummer Smith then volunteered to go out and bring in
Captain Buckley, who was believed to be wounded. Buckley was
found to be dead, but Craig and Smith brought in his body
under a murderous fire, and for this act of gallantry each
received the Victoria Cross. Sergeant McBeath was in charge of
the section on this night and after assisting Craig in the search
for Buckley’s body he went oft to look for Private Sankey, whom
he found and brought in on his back. MacBeath bore a charmed
life, for at Inkerman he had fourteen bullet-holes in his clothes
but was untouched, and on this occasion his jacket was shot
through but he got back unscathed. As we have seen, he was
awarded the medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field.
Craig was given a commission in the 10th Foot, of which he
later became Adjutant.