It was appropriate that this Scotsman of rock-hard resilience should hail from Aberdeen, long known as “the Granite City”. But the drumbeat of war was echoing across Europe so he volunteered for the Territorial Army, enlisting in the Royal Artillery. 5 The first thing John said when he had regained consciousness in the stricken Catalina, was: 'How are my crew?' Credit: PA:Press Association5 John was awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary act of sustained bravery Credit: AlamyThis time the depth charges hit their target with deadly accuracy. In his final years, in sheltered accommodation, he disliked any fuss, whether about his VC or his birthdays.

Source: The Times August 18, 2025 05:43 UTC