THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO PRIVATE DAVID LAUDER, 1 / 4TH BN, ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS, HAS BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE LORD ASHCROFT VC COLLECTION.
10 May 2016


( select to enlarge )
Medal entitlement of Private David Lauder,
1 / 4th Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1914-15 Star
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
  • Defence Medal ( 1939-45 )
  • King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
  • Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal ( 1953 )
  • Obilitch Gold Medal for Bravery ( Serbia )

Image courtesy of the Lord Ashcroft Collection, IWM

The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Private David Lauder, 1 / 4th Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers, have been acquired by the Michael Ashcroft Trust the holding institution for the Lord Ashcroft Victoria Cross Collection. The Lauder VC group will go on display in the Imperial War Museum's Lord Ashcroft Gallery.

The David Lauder Victoria Cross group had previously been sold at a Sotheby's auction on the 14th November 1979 for £10,000 and at a Spink auction on the 12th July 1994 for £17,000.


For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 13 January 1917 ], The Vinyard, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, 13 August 1915, Private David Ross Lauder, 1 / 4th Bn, Royal Scots Fusiliers.

For most conspicuous bravery ( Capes Helles, Dardanelles ) when with a bombing party retaking a sap. Private Lauder threw a bomb, which failed to clear the parapet and fell amongst the bombing party. There was no time to smother the bomb, and Private Lauder at once put his foot on it, thereby localising the explosion. His foot was blown off, but the remainder of the party through this act of sacrifice escaped unhurt.

David Lauder was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 3rd March 1917.


David Lauder died at his home in Glasgow on the 4th June 1972 and was cremated in the Daldowie Crematorium.

Acquisitions

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 10 May 2016