Career
In 1915, Archibald enlisted with the 7th Durham Light Infantry before transferring to the 218th Field Company, Royal Engineers during the second battle of the Sambre. At the age of 39, he was awarded the Victoria Cross for action while his unit was attempting to bridge the Sambre–Oise Canal. From his citation:
On 4 November 1918 near Ors, France, Sapper Archibald was with a party building a floating bridge across the canal.
He was foremost in the work under a very heavy artillery barrage and machine-gun fire.
The latter was directed at him from a few yards distance while he was working on the cork floats. Nevertheless he persevered in his task and his example and efforts were such that the bridge which was essential to the success of the operations was very quickly completed.
Immediately afterwards Sapper Archibald collapsed from gas poisoning. He later affiliated to Lodge Street James Operative, Number.97, (Edinburgh).
Adam Archibald died at his home in Leith at the age of 78.
Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
Scotland"s Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000).