The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.


The Victoria Cross has been bestowed 
1,355 times since 1854. 
( at year 2005 )

.

 
His parents William & Maggie May 
married on 13th August 1879 in Bridgeton, Glasgow. 

Henry was born 29th July 1885 at 7.00am,
                           246 Nuneaton Street, (now demolished)
                            Bridgeton, Glasgow. 

He attended Dalmarnock Public School in Bridgeton 
and enlisted in the Army on 29th August 1902 at the age of 17.       

World War I.......Story behind the VC award:
Private Henry May was a member of the 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).
At daybreak on 22nd October 1914 Henry May was in a platoon under the command of Lt.D.A.H.Graham. This Platoon was acting as covering party in a ditch to hold the enemy in check while the main part of the Cameronians entrenched positions about 700 yards to the rear. This took place on the eastern side of the village of La Boutillerie, France. During this time the Germans who were only 50 yards to the front of the platoon, attacked them in force which resulted in them falling back, but not before the trench-digging to the rear was completed. 
During the fighting L/Cpl Lawton had been wounded, about a hundred yards to the right of Pte.May who quickly ran across the firing line through a hail of bullets. L/Cpl James McCall and Pte.James Bell went with Pte.May to assist. Pte.Bell took off the wounded L/Cpl Lawton's equipment but he was shot dead as Pte.May and L/Cpl.McCall tried to lift him to his feet. L/Cpl.McCall too was knocked unconscious and Pte.May then flattened himself to the ground determined to fight to the last.
At that moment he saw his platoon commander, Lt Graham fall to the ground with a bullet in his leg. Pte.May called Pte.Bell to follow and they ran over to their officer; the two men carried him step by step, zig-zagging as they stumbled on. When they had covered about 300 yards they reached a ditch where Pte.Bell was shot in the hand and foot but they managed eventually to reach safety.
Pte.May was exhausted but struggled to drag Lt.Graham a little nearer safety when Cpl.Taylor came to his assistance. Lt.Graham, who had lost a lot of blood by this time ordered the two men to return to their lines but they disobeyed him. Cpl.Taylor lifted Lt.Graham onto his shoulders but was then shot dead. Pte.May by some supreme effort, then dragged the wounded officer to the British trenches and safety. Pte May's heroism and utter disregard for the safety of his own life was in the true tradition of the holders of the Victoria Cross.       
On 2nd of November 1914, eleven days after Pte.May won his VC, he was wounded by shrapnel during the attacks on the town of Ypres. He was attended to at a base hospital before being invalided home. He was home with his family in Glasgow in time for Christmas. In mid-January 1915 he departed once more for France, and back to the bloody war..
His VC was gazetted four months later on 19th April 1915.

His Life...
Henry was a reservist and was also a  tenter with Forest Frew & Company, muslin manufacturers close to Rutherglen Bridge, Bridgeton, Glasgow. As a reservist he joined the colours at the outbreak of war. After his VC was gazetted, he was told that he was entitled to return home for  a short respite. 
He arrived in Glasgow Central Station at 19.45 hours on Saturday 31st July 1915 and was met by a representative of the Lord Provost and by friends and former colleagues of Forrest Frew's mill. After leaving the train he was briefly carried shoulder high by the enthusiastic crowd.
On 4th August Henry was invited to a civil reception and in replying to the toast he said, "I feel proud to be present. I only did what any other soldier would  have done. Plenty of men have equalled what I did."  A week later he addressed a group of Clyde munition workers during a dinner break, telling them, "Stick to your work for the sake of our boys in the trenches."
On the 12th August he travelled to London to be presented with his VC from the king at Buckingham Palace. After the ceremony he was mobbed again by an eager crowd keen to shake him by the hand.

Henry was discharged from the Army on 28th August 1915 when his regular engagement of thirteen years had expired. He rejoined in 1918 and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

King George V gave an Afternoon Party at Buckingham Palace on the 26th June 1920 to Recipients of the Victoria Cross. His Majesty was accompanied by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family. The Victoria Cross Recipients assembled at Wellington Barracks, and marched to the Garden of the Palace via Birdcage Walk, Horse Guards Parade and The Mall preceded by the Band of the Welsh Guards. 
The King inspected the VC Recipients, who afterwards filed past His Majesty, and had the honour of being 
presented to The King and Queen.......Oor Henry was there! 
(The official list gave his rank mistakenly as Pte.May)

Henry is buried and has a headstone at Riddrie Park Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland. Section B. Lair 146. 

His VC is on display at the Cameronians Museum, Hamilton, Scotland.

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