Robert Dunsire

Robert Dunsire VC (24 November 1891 – 30 January 1916) was a Scottish 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.

Robert Dunsire

VC
Born24 November 1891
Buckhaven, Fife
Died30 January 1916(1916-01-30) (aged 24)
Mazingarbe, France
Buried
Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1915–1916 †
RankCorporal
UnitRoyal Scots
Battles/warsWorld War I
Awards Victoria Cross

Dunsire was born in November 1891 to Thomas and Elizabeth Anderson Dunsire at Buckhaven in Fife.[1] At the outbreak of war in 1914, Robert was a miner at the Fife Coal Company's Rosie Pit[2] and married to Catherine Pitt. He enlisted in January 1915 joining the 13th Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Lothian Regiment), British Army. It was during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC for his actions during the Battle of Loos, on 26 September 1915.

Citation

For most conspicuous bravery on Hill 70 on 26th Sept., 1915. Pte. Dunsire went out under very heavy fire and rescued a wounded man from between the firing lines. Later, when another man considerably nearer the German lines was heard shouting for help, he crawled out again with utter disregard to the enemy's fire and carried him in also. Shortly afterwards the Germans attacked over this ground.

— London Gazette, No. 29371, 16 November 1915[3][1]

He later achieved the rank of corporal. He was killed in action at Mazingarbe in France on 30 January 1916 and is buried there.[4]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Scots Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Scotland.

References
  1. Dunsire, Robert, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  2. "Methil Heritage". Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  3. "No. 29371". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1915. p. 11449.
  4. "Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery". Archived from the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  • François Caron, Robert Dunsire : une Victoria Cross à Mazingarbe, bulletin du Comité Historique de Mazingarbe, n° 39, Mazingarbe, juin 2012.
  • Methil Heritage

Further reading


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