283:, Corporal Ripley led his section on the right of the platoon in the assault and was the first man of the battalion to climb the enemy's parapet. From there he directed those following him to the gaps in the German wire entanglements. He then led his section through a breach in the parapet to a second line of trench. With seven or eight men he established himself, blocking other flanks, and continued to hold the position until all his men had fallen and he himself was badly wounded in the head.
111:
130:
575:
297:
Recovering from his wounds, Ripley was appointed acting sergeant in July 1915 and undertook recruiting duties in
Edinburgh. Discharged from the army in March 1919, he returned to work as a slater, also sweeping chimneys and serving in the town's fire brigade. He was later given the
40:
251:
in the summer of 1914, he volunteered as a recruiting sergeant, before enlisting for active service on 25 September 1914. He went to France with the 1st
Battalion, Black Watch in mid-February 1915, with the rank of
1497:
1527:
627:
305:
While working as a slater in August 1933, Ripley fell from a ladder and seriously injured his spine. He died shortly after admission to hospital, aged 65. He was buried in
907:
797:
773:
1502:
829:
915:
667:
1025:
821:
620:
225:, Fife. In June 1895, he married Jane Laing, a domestic servant. They had a son, Alexander, who served in the 7th Battalion, Black Watch during the
1532:
1517:
1522:
1040:
789:
529:
410:
Army Orders: Quarterly List of
Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the Volunteer Force who have been awarded the Volunteer Medal
1415:
1265:
813:
613:
805:
757:
1537:
1512:
1446:
1285:
880:
698:
556:
1451:
1380:
1070:
781:
765:
749:
588:
446:
1345:
1230:
355:
1015:
1507:
1466:
1461:
1270:
241:
1145:
1055:
193:(VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of
1436:
636:
509:
1160:
1150:
1400:
1000:
899:
677:
657:
1405:
1320:
1305:
1235:
1080:
848:
672:
198:
1325:
1310:
1290:
1210:
1165:
985:
273:
1385:
1335:
1300:
1200:
1180:
1140:
1050:
1010:
980:
975:
741:
733:
693:
1492:
1487:
1395:
1390:
1095:
1035:
864:
494:
1195:
1190:
1115:
1020:
1005:
990:
960:
299:
1410:
1375:
1330:
1315:
1275:
1260:
1255:
1205:
1090:
995:
950:
945:
872:
428:
20:
1456:
1441:
1355:
1245:
1215:
1125:
1075:
552:
525:
521:
59:
1360:
1350:
1295:
1280:
1135:
1100:
1085:
580:
423:
217:, Scotland on 20 August 1867. On leaving school he had a number of jobs, finally becoming a
1365:
1250:
1175:
1170:
548:
517:
248:
233:
226:
129:
1370:
1240:
1220:
1130:
1060:
1045:
955:
940:
932:
194:
190:
182:
171:
116:
1481:
1185:
1105:
1065:
970:
1431:
1110:
600:
394:
363:
286:
The VC was presented to him by King George V at
Buckingham Palace on 12 July 1915.
269:
236:. He served for many years in the 6th Volunteer Battalion, Black Watch, becoming a
210:
133:
289:
At 47, Ripley was the oldest recipient to win the VC during the First World War.
1340:
1225:
965:
856:
725:
662:
306:
265:
161:
151:
96:
1155:
1030:
596:
570:
544:
454:
222:
214:
80:
63:
605:
253:
237:
186:
447:"Known Graves of Holders of the Victoria Cross in: Fife. Archived copy"
392:"V.C.'s Tragic Death. Fatal Fall at St Andrews. Sergeant John Ripley".
39:
513:
280:
218:
276:
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:
474:
472:
331:
329:
327:
325:
84:
609:
264:
He was 47 years old, and a corporal in the 1st
Battalion,
240:
and one of his company's best shots. He received the
1498:
British World War I recipients of the
Victoria Cross
1424:
931:
892:
841:
718:
711:
686:
650:
643:
412:. HM Stationery Office. 1 January 1909. p. 94.
167:
157:
147:
139:
122:
104:
91:
70:
46:
30:
908:Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)
798:72nd Regiment, Duke of Albany's Own Highlanders
774:91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
500:Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
478:
335:
830:93rd (Sutherland Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
504:Batchelor, Peter; Matson, Christopher (2011).
185:(20 August 1867 – 14 August 1933) was a
19:For the United States Marine John Ripley, see
1528:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross
621:
8:
916:Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
822:92nd (Gordon Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
715:
647:
628:
614:
606:
387:
385:
383:
381:
356:"John Ripley VC: biography. Archived copy"
350:
348:
346:
344:
38:
27:
312:His medals are currently held privately.
266:The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
441:
439:
321:
244:in January 1909, and retired in 1912.
1503:British Army personnel of World War I
1041:Gustavus Hamilton Blenkinsopp Coulson
857:Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
790:75th (Stirlingshire) Regiment of Foot
232:In 1884, Ripley joined the part-time
7:
814:78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot
758:73rd (Perthshire) Regiment of Foot
541:The Register of the Victoria Cross
14:
881:Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1071:Francis Edward Henry Farquharson
782:74th (Highland) Regiment of Foot
766:71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot
573:
128:
109:
1346:William George Drummond Stewart
1231:Angus Falconer Douglas-Hamilton
806:Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders
16:Recipient of the Victoria Cross
589:Location of grave and VC medal
279:On 9 May 1915 at Rue du Bois,
1:
1533:Military personnel from Moray
1518:Accidental deaths in Scotland
1467:Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
750:King's Own Scottish Borderers
432:. 29 June 1915. p. 6270.
1523:Accidental deaths from falls
1462:Military history of Scotland
1271:William Henry Dick-Cunyngham
398:. 15 August 1933. p. 7.
242:Volunteer Long Service Medal
1146:Joseph Petrus Hendrik Crowe
1056:William Henry Grimbaldeston
551:: This England Alma House.
539:Buzzell, Nora, ed. (1997).
479:Batchelor & Matson 2011
336:Batchelor & Matson 2011
1554:
1437:Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
637:Royal Regiment of Scotland
510:VCs of the First World War
18:
1161:Valentine Munbee McMaster
1151:Herbert Taylor Macpherson
37:
1538:Volunteer Force soldiers
1513:People from Keith, Moray
1401:William Davidson Bissett
1001:William Herbert Anderson
900:Royal Highland Fusiliers
1406:Lorne MacLaine Campbell
1321:James Anson Otho Brooke
1306:William Eagleson Gordon
1236:James Dalgleish Pollock
849:Highland Light Infantry
247:On the outbreak of the
1326:George Imlach McIntosh
1311:David Reginald Younger
1026:Alexander Hore-Ruthven
986:Charles Thomas Kennedy
506:The Western Front 1915
274:battle of Aubers Ridge
1336:George Allan Mitchell
1301:John Frederick MacKay
1201:Walter Potter Ritchie
1181:Aylmer Spicer Cameron
1141:Andrew Cathcart Bogle
1051:John Kendrick Skinner
1011:Walter Lorrain Brodie
981:David Ferguson Hunter
976:David Stuart McGregor
742:Royal Scots Fusiliers
734:42nd Regiment of Foot
678:51 HIGHLAND (7 SCOTS)
300:Freedom of St Andrews
1508:Black Watch soldiers
1411:John "Jock" Anderson
1396:David Lowe MacIntyre
1391:John Crawford Buchan
1036:James Youll Turnbull
865:Seaforth Highlanders
673:52 LOWLAND (6 SCOTS)
497:(David Harvey, 1999)
495:Monuments to Courage
1196:Sidney William Ware
1021:John Brown Hamilton
1006:Frank Gerald Blaker
209:Ripley was born in
1376:John Aidan Liddell
1331:Allan Ebenezer Ker
1286:Matthew Meiklejohn
1261:Cornelius Coughlan
1081:Alexander Thompson
946:Henry Howey Robson
873:Gordon Highlanders
429:The London Gazette
366:on 6 December 2021
21:John Ripley (USMC)
1475:
1474:
1457:Scottish regiment
1442:Scottish Division
1291:William Robertson
1216:Alexander Edwards
1211:Donald MacKintosh
1166:Stewart McPherson
927:
926:
920:
912:
904:
885:
877:
869:
861:
853:
834:
826:
818:
810:
802:
794:
786:
778:
770:
762:
754:
746:
738:
730:
707:
706:
531:978-0-7524-6057-4
522:The History Press
457:on 4 January 2005
451:victoriacross.org
189:recipient of the
177:
176:
1545:
1447:Highland Brigade
1386:Arthur Henderson
1281:George Findlater
1136:Lewis Pugh Evans
918:
910:
902:
883:
875:
867:
859:
851:
832:
824:
816:
808:
800:
792:
784:
776:
768:
760:
752:
744:
736:
728:
716:
648:
630:
623:
616:
607:
583:
581:Biography portal
578:
577:
576:
562:
535:
482:
476:
467:
466:
464:
462:
453:. Archived from
443:
434:
433:
420:
414:
413:
406:
400:
399:
389:
376:
375:
373:
371:
362:. Archived from
352:
339:
333:
309:Cemetery, Fife.
132:
124:
115:
113:
112:
77:
56:
54:
42:
28:
1553:
1552:
1548:
1547:
1546:
1544:
1543:
1542:
1478:
1477:
1476:
1471:
1452:Lowland Brigade
1420:
1381:Reginald Graham
1251:Richard Wadeson
1176:James Hollowell
1096:William Gardner
1016:William Edwards
923:
888:
837:
703:
682:
668:HLDRS (4 SCOTS)
639:
634:
579:
574:
572:
569:
559:
549:Gloucestershire
538:
532:
518:Gloucestershire
503:
491:
486:
485:
477:
470:
460:
458:
445:
444:
437:
422:
421:
417:
408:
407:
403:
391:
390:
379:
369:
367:
360:VConline.org.uk
354:
353:
342:
334:
323:
318:
295:
262:
249:First World War
234:Volunteer Force
227:First World War
207:
110:
108:
100:
79:
75:
58:
52:
50:
33:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1551:
1549:
1541:
1540:
1535:
1530:
1525:
1520:
1515:
1510:
1505:
1500:
1495:
1490:
1480:
1479:
1473:
1472:
1470:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1428:
1426:
1422:
1421:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1371:William McBean
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1338:
1333:
1328:
1323:
1318:
1313:
1308:
1303:
1298:
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1248:
1243:
1241:Ross Tollerton
1238:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1221:Robert McBeath
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1191:John MacKenzie
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1133:
1131:Charles Melvin
1128:
1123:
1118:
1116:Thomas Edwards
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1088:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1061:Louis McGuffie
1058:
1053:
1048:
1046:Daniel Laidlaw
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
991:George Rodgers
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
961:Henry Reynolds
958:
956:Robert Dunsire
953:
948:
943:
941:Joseph Prosser
937:
935:
933:Victoria Cross
929:
928:
925:
924:
922:
921:
913:
905:
896:
894:
893:3rd generation
890:
889:
887:
886:
878:
870:
862:
854:
845:
843:
842:2nd generation
839:
838:
836:
835:
827:
819:
811:
803:
795:
787:
779:
771:
763:
755:
747:
739:
731:
722:
720:
719:1st generation
713:
709:
708:
705:
704:
702:
701:
696:
690:
688:
684:
683:
681:
680:
675:
670:
665:
660:
654:
652:
645:
641:
640:
635:
633:
632:
625:
618:
610:
604:
603:
594:
585:
584:
568:
567:External links
565:
564:
563:
557:
536:
530:
501:
498:
490:
487:
484:
483:
481:, p. 136.
468:
435:
415:
401:
377:
340:
338:, p. 135.
320:
319:
317:
314:
294:
291:
261:
258:
221:, settling in
206:
203:
191:Victoria Cross
175:
174:
172:Victoria Cross
169:
165:
164:
159:
155:
154:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
126:
120:
119:
117:United Kingdom
106:
102:
101:
99:Cemetery, Fife
95:
93:
89:
88:
78:(aged 65)
74:14 August 1933
72:
68:
67:
57:20 August 1867
48:
44:
43:
35:
34:
31:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1550:
1539:
1536:
1534:
1531:
1529:
1526:
1524:
1521:
1519:
1516:
1514:
1511:
1509:
1506:
1504:
1501:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1491:
1489:
1486:
1485:
1483:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1430:
1429:
1427:
1423:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1337:
1334:
1332:
1329:
1327:
1324:
1322:
1319:
1317:
1316:William Kenny
1314:
1312:
1309:
1307:
1304:
1302:
1299:
1297:
1294:
1292:
1289:
1287:
1284:
1282:
1279:
1277:
1276:Edward Lawson
1274:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1264:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1256:Patrick Green
1254:
1252:
1249:
1247:
1244:
1242:
1239:
1237:
1234:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1206:Thomas Steele
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1186:George Sellar
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1147:
1144:
1142:
1139:
1137:
1134:
1132:
1129:
1127:
1124:
1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:Duncan Millar
1104:
1102:
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1091:Edward Spence
1089:
1087:
1084:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1067:
1066:Bill Speakman
1064:
1062:
1059:
1057:
1054:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
996:George Wilson
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
971:Roland Elcock
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
957:
954:
952:
951:William Angus
949:
947:
944:
942:
939:
938:
936:
934:
930:
917:
914:
909:
906:
901:
898:
897:
895:
891:
882:
879:
874:
871:
866:
863:
858:
855:
850:
847:
846:
844:
840:
831:
828:
823:
820:
815:
812:
807:
804:
799:
796:
791:
788:
783:
780:
775:
772:
767:
764:
759:
756:
751:
748:
743:
740:
735:
732:
727:
724:
723:
721:
717:
714:
710:
700:
699:ASH (5 SCOTS)
697:
695:
694:RSB (1 SCOTS)
692:
691:
689:
685:
679:
676:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
658:RHF (2 SCOTS)
656:
655:
653:
649:
646:
642:
638:
631:
626:
624:
619:
617:
612:
611:
608:
602:
598:
595:
593:
590:
587:
586:
582:
571:
566:
560:
558:0-906324-27-0
554:
550:
546:
542:
537:
533:
527:
523:
519:
515:
511:
507:
502:
499:
496:
493:
492:
488:
480:
475:
473:
469:
456:
452:
448:
442:
440:
436:
431:
430:
425:
419:
416:
411:
405:
402:
397:
396:
388:
386:
384:
382:
378:
365:
361:
357:
351:
349:
347:
345:
341:
337:
332:
330:
328:
326:
322:
315:
313:
310:
308:
303:
301:
292:
290:
287:
284:
282:
277:
275:
271:
267:
259:
257:
255:
250:
245:
243:
239:
235:
230:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
204:
202:
200:
196:
192:
188:
184:
181:
173:
170:
166:
163:
160:
156:
153:
150:
146:
142:
138:
135:
131:
127:
121:
118:
107:
103:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
73:
69:
65:
61:
49:
45:
41:
36:
29:
26:
22:
1432:Scots Guards
1416:Kenneth Muir
1356:David MacKay
1296:Ernest Towse
1266:George White
1246:Thomas Beach
1126:David Finlay
1120:
1111:Samuel McGaw
1076:John Simpson
737:( 1661–1881)
712:Predecessors
663:BW (3 SCOTS)
601:Find a Grave
591:
540:
505:
489:Bibliography
459:. Retrieved
455:the original
450:
427:
418:
409:
404:
395:The Scotsman
393:
368:. Retrieved
364:the original
359:
311:
304:
296:
288:
285:
278:
270:British Army
263:
246:
231:
208:
199:Commonwealth
179:
178:
158:Battles/wars
134:British Army
76:(1933-08-14)
25:
1493:1933 deaths
1488:1867 births
1361:James Munro
1351:Peter Grant
1341:John Dunlay
1226:John Meikle
1121:John Ripley
1101:Walter Cook
1086:James Davis
966:Hugh McIver
919:(1994–2006)
911:(1961–1994)
903:(1959–2006)
884:(1881–2006)
876:(1881–1994)
868:(1881–1961)
860:(1881–2006)
852:(1881–1959)
833:(1799–1881)
825:(1794–1881)
817:(1793–1881)
809:(1793–1961)
801:(1788–1881)
793:(1787–1881)
785:(1787–1881)
777:(1759–1881)
769:(1758–1881)
761:(1756–1881)
753:(1689–2006)
745:(1678–1959)
729:(1633–2006)
726:Royal Scots
597:John Ripley
424:"No. 29210"
370:14 December
307:Upper Largo
180:John Ripley
162:World War I
152:Black Watch
97:Upper Largo
32:John Ripley
1482:Categories
1366:John Paton
1171:Henry Ward
1156:Joseph Jee
1031:John Shaul
644:Battalions
545:Cheltenham
461:3 December
316:References
293:Later life
223:St Andrews
215:Banffshire
205:Early life
105:Allegiance
87:, Scotland
81:St Andrews
66:, Scotland
64:Banffshire
53:1867-08-20
260:VC action
1425:See also
254:corporal
238:sergeant
201:forces.
187:Scottish
143:Sergeant
123:Service/
651:Current
272:at the
195:British
687:Former
592:(Fife)
555:
528:
514:Stroud
281:France
219:slater
168:Awards
125:branch
114:
92:Buried
211:Keith
60:Keith
553:ISBN
526:ISBN
463:2021
372:2021
197:and
148:Unit
140:Rank
85:Fife
71:Died
47:Born
599:at
1484::
547:,
543:.
524:.
520::
516:,
512:.
508:.
471:^
449:.
438:^
426:.
380:^
358:.
343:^
324:^
302:.
268:,
256:.
229:.
213:,
183:VC
83:,
62:,
629:e
622:t
615:v
561:.
534:.
465:.
374:.
55:)
51:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
