John Daykins

John Brunton Daykins
Born	26 March 1883 Hawick, Scottish Borders
Died	24 January 1933 Edinburgh, Scotland
Buried	Castlewood Cemetery, Jedburgh
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	The York and Lancaster Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Military Medal

John Brunton Daykins VC MM (Ormiston Farm, Hawick, 26 March 1883 – 24 January 1933, Edinburgh) 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.

Daykins was 35 years old, and an acting sergeant in the 2/4th Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 20 October 1918 at Solesmes, France, Sergeant Daykins, with 12 remaining men of his platoon, rushed a machine-gun and during subsequent severe hand-to-hand fighting he himself disposed of many of the enemy and secured his objective. He then located another machine-gun which was holding up an operation of his company. Under heavy fire he worked his way alone to the post and shortly afterwards returned with 25 prisoners and an enemy machine-gun, which he mounted at his post. His magnificent fighting spirit and example inspired his men, saved many casualties and contributed largely to the success of the attack.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum within Clifton Park Museum, Rotherham, England.

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
• VCs of the First World War – The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Border, Scotland)
• John Daykins at Find a Grave