Person    | Male  Born 20/11/1870  Died 4/7/1913

Major Matthew Meiklejohn, VC

Categories: Armed Forces

Countries: Scotland, South Africa

Gained his VC, and lost his right arm, as a captain in the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa at the battle of Elandslaagte, during the Boer War.

He died following a fall from his horse in Hyde Park.  Brookwood Cemetery reports: “His horse was startled by the salute during an OTC inspection and galloped away towards a group of children. To avoid them, Meiklejohn turned his horse against the railings of Rotten Row. He was thrown off and never regained consciousness. The Times reported it as an act of heroic self-sacrifice.”  Our thanks to Carly Meik for this.

 

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Major Matthew Meiklejohn, VC

Commemorated ati

Meiklejohn

To the honoured memory of Major Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn, V. C., Gor...

Read More

Other Subjects

Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde

Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde

Field Marshal. Born Glasgow as Colin Macliver but his maternal uncle financed his education so he took his surname, Campbell. Rose through the army ranks, fought at the Crimea and as Commander-in-C...

Person, Armed Forces, Crimea, India, Scotland

1 memorial
W. Baker, Jnr.

W. Baker, Jnr.

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
World War 1

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920...

Event, Armed Forces, Tragedy

384 memorials
A. G. Diprose

A. G. Diprose

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Robert Hill Hanna, VC

Robert Hill Hanna, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 21 August 1917, age 30, while serving in the 29th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. "He coolly led his men against a strong point, displaying courage and pe...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial