John McNeill (British Army officer)


Sir John Carstairs McNeill, was a senior British Army officer and Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early life

He was the son of Anne Elizabeth McNeill née Carstairs, and Alexander McNeill, brother of Duncan McNeill, Lord Colonsay and of Sir John McNeill. His own brother was Alexander McNeill. He was educated at St Andrews and at Addiscombe Military Seminary.

Details

McNeill was 33 years old, and a lieutenant colonel in the 107th Regiment of Foot, while serving as an Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant General Sir Duncan Cameron during the Invasion of Waikato, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 22 March 1885, Maj. Gen. Sir John McNeill commanded a detachment of the Suakin Field Force, which fought an action against Mahdist insurgents led by Osman Digna at Tofrek, a few miles inland from Suakin. The action is also referred to as "the Battle of McNeill's Zeriba".

Later life

McNeill later achieved the rank of major general, and in retirement became an equerry to Queen Victoria.

Honours

;British honours
;Foreign honours