William Davidson Bissett

William Davidson Bissett
William Davidson Bissett VC in 1918
Born	17 August 1893 St Martins, Perthshire
Died	12 May 1971 (aged 77) Wrexham, Wales
Buried	Aldershot Military Cemetery (Cremated in Pentre Bychan, Wrexham)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Major
Unit	The Lancashire Fusiliers Royal Army Ordnance Corps Royal Pioneer Corps
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross Croix de Guerre avec Palme (France)

Major William Davidson Bissett VC (7 August 1893 – 12 May 1971) 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.

Early life[]

Bissett was born at St Martin's, Perthshire on 7 August 1893. He was the elder son of John Bissett, a plumber, and Helen Davidson Bissett, of 18 Strathmore Street,  Bridgend, Perthshire.^[1]

Military career[]

Bissett's grave in Aldershot Military Cemetery

Bissett was 25 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1/6th Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC:

"On 25 October 1918 east of Maing, France, Lieutenant Bissett was commanding a platoon, but owing to casualties took command of the company and handled it with great skill when an enemy counter-attack turned his left flank. Realising the danger he withdrew to the railway, but the enemy continued to advance and when the ammunition was exhausted Lieutenant Bissett mounted the railway embankment under heavy fire and, calling for a bayonet charge, drove back the enemy with heavy loss and again charged forward, establishing the line and saving a critical situation."^[2]

He also served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Pioneer Corps in World War II and achieved the rank of major.

Bissett's ashes are buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery in Aldershot Military Town, Hampshire, England.^[3]

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling Castle, Scotland.

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 (Hampshire)
• History of Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders^{[permanent dead link]}