A VICTORIA Cross winner who was blinded in action 102 years ago was remembered in a special Armistice Day Service.

Distinguished guests who included the Lord- Lieutenant of Gwent, Brigadier Robert Aitken CBE, Major-General Lennox Napier CB OBE MC DL, and the Royal Welsh Regiment gathered for the unveiling of a plaque in honour of Coleford man Angus Buchanan and the re-dedication of his old school’s war memorial.

The monument at Monmouth School for Boys, conceived a century ago in 1919 by the Old Monmothians to pay tribute to the 76 old boys who fell in the First World War, was originally unveiled by Captain Buchanan in 1921.

And the whole school, including musicians from the chapel choir, were present on Monday, November 11, as Brigadier Aitken and Major-General Napier re-dedicated the memorial and unveiled the plaque, respectively.

Major-General Na- pier, aged 91, said: “We remember Angus Buchanan’s life of quiet service in our community, and give thanks for the memory of a great, yet humble man. 

“May this plaque inspire generations of boys to lead lives of honour and service.”

It was a very special day at the school as headmaster Dr Andrew Daniel hosted the Royal Welsh Regiment (the successor to the South Wales Borderers, Buchanan’s regiment) and its regimental goat, Shenkin IV, with Sgt Mark Jackson.

A school spokesperson said: “The bugler, Sgt Johnathon Bowden, played The Last Post, in a beautiful and moving service, which included a two-minute silence, a Bible reading, singing of the National Anthem, the playing of the Rouse and wreath-laying.”

Angus Buchanan, who was head boy at Monmouth and has a boarding house named after him, studied Classics at Jesus College, Oxford, and joined the army, where he served in Gallipoli and Mesopotamia.

He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery at Helles in Gallipoli on January 7, 1916, when in command of B Company, South Wales Borderers 4th Battalion, in trenches east of Gully Ravine.

Then on April 5 that year, in fighting in Mesopotamia, the 21-year-old won the VC for “most conspicuous bravery” saving two wounded men from no-man’s land under heavy enemy fire despite being wounded in the arm.

His citation read: “During an attack an of?cer was lying out in the open severely wounded about 150 yards from cover.

“Two men went to his assistance and one of them was hit at once.

“Captain Buchanan, on seeing this, immediately went out and, with the help of the other man, carried the wounded of?-cer to cover under heavy machine-gun ?re.” it added.

“He then returned and brought in the wounded man, again under heavy ?re.”

After being blinded in action on February 14, 1917, and having to resign his commission, Captain Buchanan was invested with the Victoria Cross and Military Cross at a ceremony in Bristol, by King George V, on November 8, 1917.

Four years later, he was guest of honour at the unveiling of the school war memorial, saying in his speech that the simple granite cross would “never be an ornament, but always a true and lasting monument to those who gave their lives”.

A total of 143 old boys and staff died in conflicts in the 20th century.

Captain Buchanan later returned to Oxford University to study law, and then became a solicitor in his home town, where as a youngster he had attended St John’s Boys School.

He went on to be one of the best salmon ?sherman in the area with a detailed knowledge of the River Wye and played bridge.

Captain Buchanan, who has a recreation ground named after him in his home town, died in Gloucester Royal In?rmary on March 1, 1944, aged 49, and was buried with full military honours at Coleford Church.

His gravestone there says he “died of old wounds”, having never fully recovered from his injuries sustained on the battlefield.

•See more photographs in this week’s Review.