George Findlay: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Scottish Victoria Cross recipient (1889-1967)}}{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} | {{Short description|Scottish Victoria Cross recipient (1889-1967)}}{{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|name= George Findlay | | name = George Findlay | ||
|birth_date=20 August 1889 | | birth_date = 20 August 1889 | ||
|death_date= 26 June 1967 (aged 77) | | death_date = 26 June 1967 (aged 77) | ||
|image=VCGeorgedeCardonnelElmsallFindlay.jpg | | image = VCGeorgedeCardonnelElmsallFindlay.jpg | ||
|caption= | | caption = | ||
|nickname= | | nickname = | ||
|birth_place=[[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland | | birth_place = [[Balloch, West Dunbartonshire|Balloch]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland | ||
|death_place=[[Helensburgh]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland | | death_place = [[Helensburgh]], Dunbartonshire, Scotland | ||
|placeofburial= | | placeofburial = Kilmaronock Churchyard, near [[Gartocharn]] | ||
|allegiance= | | allegiance = United Kingdom | ||
|branch= | | branch = [[British Army]] | ||
|serviceyears= | | serviceyears = | ||
|rank=[[Colonel]] | | rank = [[Colonel]] | ||
|unit=[[Royal Engineers]] | | unit = [[Royal Engineers]] | ||
|commands= | | commands = | ||
|battles=[[World War I]]<br>[[World War II]] | | battles = [[World War I]]<br>[[World War II]] | ||
|awards= [[Victoria Cross]]<br>[[Military Cross]] and Bar | | awards = [[Victoria Cross]]<br>[[Military Cross]] and Bar | ||
|relations= | | relations = | ||
|laterwork=[[Deputy Lieutenant]] | | laterwork = [[Deputy Lieutenant]] | ||
}} | }}Colonel '''George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Military Cross|MC & Bar]] (20 August 1889 – 26 June 1967) 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 of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. | ||
Colonel '''George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay''' [[Victoria Cross|VC]] [[Military Cross|MC & Bar]] (20 August 1889 – 26 June 1967) 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 of Nations|Commonwealth]] forces. | |||
Findlay was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in January 1910. He was awarded a [[Military Cross]] for gallantry at the [[Battle of Passchendale]] | == Biography == | ||
Born in Cardross, Dunbartonshire in 1889.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Join Ancestry |url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/offers/join?dbid=2483&gsfn&gsln&h=1146&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ancestry.co.uk%2Fsearch%2Fcollections%2F2483%2Frecords%2F1146 |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=www.ancestry.co.uk}}</ref> He was educated at [[St Ninian's School, Moffat|St Ninian's Prep School]], [[Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway|Moffat]] and [[Harrow School]]. He was one of four brothers who enlisted in WW1. His brother Robert was killed in the [[Quintinshill rail disaster|Quintinshill Rail]] disaster<ref>''Dunbartonshire men in the railway accident''-Lennox Herald 29 May 1915 </ref> | |||
Findlay was commissioned into the [[Royal Engineers]] in January 1910. He was awarded a [[Military Cross]] for gallantry at the [[Battle of Passchendale]] and was mentioned in despatches.<ref>''Captain George Findlay mentioned in despatches-''Dumbarton Herald, and County Advertiser 16 May 1917 </ref> Following this which he took command of 409 (Lowland) Field Company, a territorial company in June 1917.{{fact|date=September 2025}} | |||
In September 1921 Findlay married Dorothy Gordon at [[St Ninian's, Pollokshields, Glasgow|St Ninian's]] Episcopal Church in Glasgow.<ref>''Dunbartonshire VC's wedding'' -Dumbarton Herald, and County Advertiser 14 Sept 1921</ref> The marriage was later dissolved and he married Nellie Constance Barclay Clark in 1959.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Victoria Cross and George Cross |title=George de Cardonnel Elmsall FINDLAY VC |url=https://vcgca.org/our-people/profile/867/George-de-Cardonnel-Elmsall-FINDLAY |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=vcgca.org |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==VC details== | ==VC details== | ||
He was 29 years old, and an acting major in the 409 (Lowland) Field Company, [[Corps of Royal Engineers]], [[British Army]] during the [[First World War]] when the | He was 29 years old, and an acting major in the 409 (Lowland) Field Company, [[Corps of Royal Engineers]], [[British Army]] during the [[First World War]] when he was awarded the VC.<ref>''Major George Findlay VC'' - Lennox Herald 6 Dec 1919 </ref> | ||
On 4 November 1918 during the forcing of the Sambre-Oise Canal at the lock south of [[Catillon]], France, Major Findlay was with the leading bridging and assaulting parties which came under heavy fire and the advance was stopped. Nevertheless, he collected what men he could and repaired the bridge, under incessant fire. Although wounded he continued with his task and after two unsuccessful efforts managed to place the bridge in position across the lock and was the first man across, remaining at this dangerous post until further work was completed. | |||
The family story goes that the reason Major Findlay crossed safely was because he was a slow runner. The Germans overcompensated their aim and thus missed him as he led his men across the bridge.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31340|date=13 May 1919 |page=6083|supp=y }}</ref> | |||
==Further information== | ==Further information== | ||
He achieved the rank of [[colonel]] and served in [[World War II]]. He became Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Dumbarton in 1957. | |||
He | |||
Findlay is buried at Kilmaronock Church, near Gartocharn, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Findlay died in June 1967 is buried at Kilmaronock Church, near Gartocharn, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kilmaronock Old Kirk {{!}} Community Venue |url=https://www.kilmaronockoldkirk.org.uk/ |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=Kilmaronock Old Kirk |language=en}}</ref><ref>''Col G De C E Findlay VC''-The Scotsman - 27 June 1967</ref> | ||
== | ==Medal== | ||
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Royal Engineers Museum]], [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]], Kent. | His Victoria Cross is displayed at the [[Royal Engineers Museum]], [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]], Kent. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
[[File:Kilmaronock Church - geograph.org.uk - 1358233.jpg|thumb|KIlmaronock Church]] | |||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
*{{cite book|title=[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]]|publisher=This England|year=1997|isbn=0-906324-03-3}} | *{{cite book |title=[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] |publisher=This England |year=1997 |isbn=0-906324-03-3}} | ||
*{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918|publisher=Sutton Publishing|year=2000|isbn=0-7509-2485-3}} | *{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918|publisher=Sutton Publishing|year=2000|isbn=0-7509-2485-3}} | ||
*[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997) | *[[The Register of the Victoria Cross]] (This England, 1997) | ||
Latest revision as of 08:23, 22 November 2025
Template:Short descriptionTemplate:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Colonel George de Cardonnel Elmsall Findlay VC MC & Bar (20 August 1889 – 26 June 1967) 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.
Biography
Born in Cardross, Dunbartonshire in 1889.[1] He was educated at St Ninian's Prep School, Moffat and Harrow School. He was one of four brothers who enlisted in WW1. His brother Robert was killed in the Quintinshill Rail disaster[2]
Findlay was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in January 1910. He was awarded a Military Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Passchendale and was mentioned in despatches.[3] Following this which he took command of 409 (Lowland) Field Company, a territorial company in June 1917.Template:Fact
In September 1921 Findlay married Dorothy Gordon at St Ninian's Episcopal Church in Glasgow.[4] The marriage was later dissolved and he married Nellie Constance Barclay Clark in 1959.[5]
VC details
He was 29 years old, and an acting major in the 409 (Lowland) Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when he was awarded the VC.[6]
On 4 November 1918 during the forcing of the Sambre-Oise Canal at the lock south of Catillon, France, Major Findlay was with the leading bridging and assaulting parties which came under heavy fire and the advance was stopped. Nevertheless, he collected what men he could and repaired the bridge, under incessant fire. Although wounded he continued with his task and after two unsuccessful efforts managed to place the bridge in position across the lock and was the first man across, remaining at this dangerous post until further work was completed.
The family story goes that the reason Major Findlay crossed safely was because he was a slow runner. The Germans overcompensated their aim and thus missed him as he led his men across the bridge.[7]
Further information
He achieved the rank of colonel and served in World War II. He became Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Dumbarton in 1957.
Findlay died in June 1967 is buried at Kilmaronock Church, near Gartocharn, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.[8][9]
Medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent.
References
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Dunbartonshire men in the railway accident-Lennox Herald 29 May 1915
- ↑ Captain George Findlay mentioned in despatches-Dumbarton Herald, and County Advertiser 16 May 1917
- ↑ Dunbartonshire VC's wedding -Dumbarton Herald, and County Advertiser 14 Sept 1921
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Major George Findlay VC - Lennox Herald 6 Dec 1919
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Col G De C E Findlay VC-The Scotsman - 27 June 1967
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Bibliography
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
External links
- Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs
- Location of grave and VC medal (Strathclyde)
Categories:
- Pages with script errors
- Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y
- Pages with broken file links
- 1889 births
- 1967 deaths
- People educated at St Ninian's School, Moffat
- People educated at Harrow School
- Military personnel from West Dunbartonshire
- British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
- Royal Engineers officers
- British Army personnel of World War I
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Deputy lieutenants of Dunbartonshire
- Recipients of the Military Cross
- British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross