b. 14/01/1879 Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. d. 11/03/1957 Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Adam Archibald (1879-1957) was born on 14th January 1879 at 40 Balfour Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland. His father, Rennie Archibald was a plasterer. He married Christina nee Anderson, from Aberdour, Fife, on 28th April 1876 at Easter Aberdour. Adam had four siblings – Sarah, Janet, Christina and Elizabeth.
Adam was educated at Leith Walk Public School, Edinburgh. He then trained at a technical school, gaining several trade certificates. Adam was a plasterer’s apprentice at Leith and then worked as an outside foreman at Messrs Stuarts Granolithic Works, Duff Street, Edinburgh from July 1900.
Adam married Margaret Lauder Sinclair on 6th June 1902 at 6 Nicholson Street, Edinburgh. They had four children – Elizabeth, Christina, Ada and Rennie.
Adam Archibald VC
On 8th December 1915 he enlisted at Edinburgh under the Derby Scheme and transferred to the Reserve next day. He was mobilised on 9th November 1916 in the Royal Engineers and his trade was assessed as a plasterer superior. Next day he reported to Depot Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent and was posted to the RE Training Centre, Newark, Nottinghamshire on 26th March 1917. On 28th August he was posted to 5th Depot Company RE, Newark and transferred to the Durham Light Infantry on 16th September. Next day he proceeded to France from Folkestone, Kent and joined 1/7th Durham Light Infantry (Pioneers), 50th Division on 21st September.
On 28th October Adam was gassed and was evacuated to Britain on 6th November. He transferred to a command depot on 19th February 1918 and to the RE Depot, Chatham on 23rd May. In August, he transferred to Northern Command Discharge Centre in Ripon for release to shipbuilding, but his trade was deemed not suitable. He transferred to 645th West Lancashire Field Company RE, Colchester, Essex on 13th August and returned to France on 26th August from H Company, 5th Reserve Battalion, RE. Adam was gassed again on 3rd November.
On 4th November 1918 near Ors, France, Sapper Archibald was with a party building a floating bridge across the canal. He was foremost in the work under a very heavy artillery barrage and machine-gun fire. The latter was directed at him from a few yards distance while he was working on the cork floats. Nevertheless, he persevered in his task and his example and efforts were such that the bridge which was essential to the success of the operations was very quickly completed. Immediately afterwards Sapper Archibald collapsed from gas poisoning. He was evacuated to Britain on 29th January 1919 to join 5th Reserve Battalion RE, Christchurch, Hampshire.
He received his Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace in May 1919. He was one of the VC Honour Guard at the burial of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey on 11th November 1920. After his discharge he returned to his job with Stuart’s Granolithic Works in Edinburgh, eventually rising to a position as manager of their Duff Street works. He attended the 1920 VC Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, the VC Dinner at the House of Lords in 1929, the Victory Day Celebration Dinner at the Dorchester, London on 8th June 1946 and the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park on 26th June 1956. He was also a Freemason.
He passed away at his home in Leith on 11th March 1957 at the age of 76. He was cremated at Warriston Crematorium, Edinburgh. His ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance there. His name is on the memorial there. He is also commemorated with a VC commemorative stone place in Broughton, Edinburgh unveiled on 2nd November 2018, and he is named on the For Valour Board at the Royal Engineers Museum, Brompton Barracks, Gillingham, Kent.
In addition to the VC, he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953. The medals were acquired by the Royal Engineers in 1998 and are held at the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, Kent.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM, GILLINGHAM, KENT.
BURIAL PLACE: WARRISTON CREMATORIUM, EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE
