Description
Physical description
cross patté (described in the Royal Warrant as a 'Maltese cross of bronze') having at its centre a crown surmounted by 'lion gardant'; beneath the crown an ornamentally draped scroll bearing the motto: 'FOR VALOUR'. Raised borders outline the shape of the cross. The plain reverse bears a central circle (with raised edge) to enclose the date of the act of gallantry. The suspension bar comprises a straight laurelled bar with integral 'V' lug; the plain reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with details of the recipient. The 1½-inch wide ribbon is crimson. The presence of a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.
[Note: originally the ribbon was dark blue for Royal Navy recipients and crimson (described as 'red' in the Warrants) for the Army. After the formation of the Royal Air Force (1 April 1918) the crimson ribbon (sometimes described as 'claret', 'maroon' or 'dark red', was adopted for all recipients. When present, a straight laurelled Bar (in the same form as the suspension bar but without the 'V' lug) indicates a subsequent award.]
Label
Biographical note (recipient): Corporal James McPhie VC (18 Dec 1894-14 Oct 1918) 416th (Edinburgh) Field Company, Royal Engineers (TF) attached to the 56th (1st London) Division.
James McPhie was born in Edinburgh and joined the Territorial Force in 1912. On 14 October 1918, during the final Allied advance in France, McPhie was with a party of sappers maintaining a temporary cork bridge over the Canal de la Sensée near Aubencheul au Bac. At dawn, an infantry patrol which was crossing the canal started to bunch under German fire, causing the frail bridge to break up. McPhie and another man jumped into the water, holding the cork floats and timbers of the bridge together until the patrol was able to scramble across. Realising that the safety of the patrol depended upon the bridge being repaired, McPhie swam back and immediately set about collecting the necessary material. Undeterred by heavy fire, and rallying his men with the with the inspiring words "It is death or glory which must be done for the sake of our patrol on the other side", he led the way back onto the bridge to begin the vital work. He was severely wounded almost at once, falling partly into the water, and died after receiving several more wounds, but his inspiring example ensured that contact was kept with the patrol on the far bank at a critical period. McPhie, whose posthumous Victoria Cross was gazetted on 31 January 1919, is buried in the Naves Communal Cemetery Extension, near Cambrai, close to where he fell in action. The King presented McPhie's VC to his parents at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace on 3 April 1919. Also held in the collection are the service medals to McPhie (OMD 2424-2426); the Next of Kin Memorial Plaque; McPhie's RE cap badge and his Imperial Service Badge. There is a portrait photograph in the Photo Archive (Ref: Q70039).
History note
Medal citation: (Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 January 1919, pp.1504-1505).
'No. 422047 Cpl. James McPhie, late 416th (Edinburgh) Fld.-Coy., R.E., T.F. (Edinburgh).
For most conspicuous bravery on the 14th October, 1918, when with a party of sappers maintaining a cork float bridge across the Canal de la Sensee near Aubencheul au Bac.
The further end of the bridge was under close machine-gun fire and within reach of hand grenades. When Infantry, just before dawn, were crossing it, closing up resulted and the bridge began to sink and break. Accompanied by a sapper, he jumped into the water and endeavoured to hold the cork and timbers together, but this they failed to do. Cpl. McPhie then swam back, and, having reported the broken bridge, immediately started to collect material for repair. It was now daylight. Fully aware that the bridge was under close fire and that the far bank was almost entirely in the hands of the enemy, with, the inspiring words "It is death or glory work which must be done for the sake of our patrol on the other side," he led the way, axe in hand, on to the bridge and was at once severely wounded, falling partly into the water, and died after receiving several further wounds. It was due to the magnificent example set by Cpl. McPhie that touch was maintained with the patrol on the enemy bank at a most critical period.'
Engraved, reverse (centre)
14.OCT.1918.
Engraved, suspender bar (reverse)
422047 CPL.J.McPHIE.
LATE 416TH (EDINBURGH) FLD.COY.R.E.(T.F.)