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Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Matthew Fontaine Maury Meiklejohn (27 November 1870- 4 July 1913) was an British 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.
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He was 28 years old, and a Captain in the 2nd Bn., The Gordon Highlanders, British Army during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 21 October 1899 at the Battle of Elandslaagte, South Africa, after the main Boer position had been captured, some men of the Gordon Highlanders who were about to assault a kopje were exposed to heavy crossfire, and having lost their leaders started to waver. Seeing this, Captain Meiklejohn rushed to the front and called on the Gordons to follow him. By his conspicuous bravery and example he rallied the men and led them against the enemy's position, where he fell, desperately wounded in four places.
He later achieved the rank of Major. He died on 4th July 1913 following a fall from his horse in Hyde Park, and was given a hero's funeral in London. He is commemorated by a plaque on the wall of the Hyde Park Barracks.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum (Aberdeen, Scotland).
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)
- Location of grave and VC medal (Brookwood Cemetery)
- The Brookwood Cemetery Society (Known Holders of the Victoria Cross Commemorated in Brookwood Cemetery)