Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand VC

Name: Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: September 9, 1916

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)/October 8, 1879

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Temporary Major

Date of bravery: July 1, 1916

London Gazette citation:

Temp. Maj. Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand, late York. R.

For most conspicuous bravery. When his company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy’s trenches, they were met by very fierce machine gun fire, which temporarily stopped their progress. Maj. Loudoun-Shand immediately leapt on the parapet, helped the men over it and encouraged them in every way until he fell mortally wounded.

Even then he insisted on being propped up in the trench, and went on encouraging the non-commissioned officers and men until he died.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Fricourt, France/July 1, 1916

Grave/memorials: Norfolk Cemetery, Picardie, France; Dulwich College War Memorial, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2005

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum