Victoria Cross Facts

The Victoria Cross is forever linked with acts of extreme bravery and the original document associated with the medal stated that it could only be awarded for "gallantry of the highest order".

The first Glasgow-born recipient of the Victoria Cross was Harry Ranken VC (3 September 1883-25 September 1914). Captain Ranken moved away from Glasgow to Irvine as a boy when his father Henry became a minister in Irvine, Ayrshire. However he returning to study medicine and surgery at the University of Glasgow. He joined the army in 1909. His VC is held at the Army Medical Services Museum in Aldershot.

At the University of Glasgow since it was founded by his parents in 1924, each year The Captain HS Ranken, VC, Memorial Prize is given out. It is awarded  to the candidate who obtains the highest number of marks in the professional examinations in Pathology

However in 1914, the media in Scotland gave the title of Glasgow's first Victoria Cross winner to  Henry May VC (1885-1941), a man who except for his time serving during the First World War, lived and worked all his life in Glasgow. Henry May is buried at Riddrie Park Cemetery, Glasgow and in 2006 his gravestone was rededicated with details of his VC. His medal is on display at the Cameronians Museum in Hamilton. This discrepancy about the first VC for the city would have been an easy mistake to make 100 years ago, as the media relied heavily on the home address given at enlistment.

In honour of the centenary of the start of Great War, the UK government announced in 2013 that the First World War VC recipients were to be remembered with special commemorative paving stones laid in their home towns.  If you a family of a Glasgow Victoria Cross recipient, please contact us on FirstWorldWar@glasgow.gov.uk