How Knox’s bravery contributed to his winning Victoria Cross?

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for valour in the British army. The medal was first given to a British soldier in 1857 when Scottish soldier John Simpson Knox was recognised for his bravery in the Crimea. Since then many Scottish soldiers have been awarded the Victoria Cross but the early Scottish VC recipients set an example to the British Army for the next 150 years.

Knox joined the army as an underage soldier of 14 but as tall boy he was promoted to Corporal before he was even 18, and by the time he had been deployed to the Crimea in 1854 he had gained the rank of Sergeant in the Scottish Fusiliers. The battle of Alma was one of the first near suicidal advances by the British and French forces during the campaign. Faced with crossing a river and climbing a hill with well dug in Russian Artillery opposing the allied forces were unlikely to succeed. The young Glaswegian, Knox, was in the reserve of the main attack but the impossibility of the mission meant he was soon trying take his men forward through the retreating men of the first attack.

Scotland’s Blair Atholl- A Holiday Destination with Rich History

Blair Atholl is a part of Scotland that offers so much that once you arrive for a Scottish holiday there is no need to get in the car for a day out until it is time to go home again. The area has everything apart from queues; there is history galore, walking and outdoor sports, wonderful food and drink all with the back drop of Scotland’s very best countryside.

The battle of Killiecrankie was fought in 1689 between the James VII loyal clans and William of Orange. It is remembered for more than just its funny name as this was a rare defeat for Jacobites against the new king of England. As a strange twist to the story James then fled Scotland and, in doing so, it was decided that he had abdicated and the throne passed to William and Mary. The battle site, where Viscount Dundee faced General Hugh Mackay of Scourie, is 2 miles south east of Blair Atholl. The result may have been a convincing victory for the Jacobites but it left Dundee dead and the Jacobites in disarray forcing James to flee his land. Read More...