Background
Angus was born at Polkemmet Rows, Cappers, Armadale.
Angus was born at Polkemmet Rows, Cappers, Armadale.
After leaving school he was employed as a miner but was able to find himself a place as a professional football player at Celtic Football Club where he made only one appearance in the first team Released in 1914, he joined Wishaw Thistle, the club he was captaining when war was declared in August. Early in 1915 his HLI company was transferred to the 8th Royal Scots, the first Territorial battalion to join the Expeditionary Force.
8th Royal Scots had suffered a great many casualties and were in urgent need of replacements.
He was serving as a lance-corporal in this battalion when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Victoria Cross
To do this he had to travel through 64 metres in no-man"s land under heavy bomb and rifle fire, and received about 40 wounds, some of them being very serious, including the loss of his left eye.
His commanding officer said there had been no braver deed in the history of the British Army. When the King commented on his 40 injuries, Angus was said to have answered "Aye, sir, but only 13 were serious.".
After he had returned to Carluke, he was given a hero"s welcome and received standing ovations at Celtic Park and Ibrox.
Following the war, he started business as a goods carrier. He also became president of Carluke Rovers Football Club, a position he held until his death in 1959. Each year of his life, he received a telegram of thanks from the family of the man he rescued.
In 2015, on the centenary of his heroic acts, a commemorative stone was laid in Carluke.
As a member of local Territorial battalion of the Highland Light Infantry, he was mobilised immediately.