A Military Cross Group for Vox Farm, Passchendaele to Captain P.H.L. Campbell, Colquhoun MC, 3rd Battalion, Black Watch, who was later Killed in Action on 19th September 1918, shot through the head by a sniper while explaining the plan of attack to his officers. Military Cross, Geo V, the reverse inscribed in period style ‘ CAPT P.H.L.C. COLQUHOUN ROYAL HIGHRS’. 1914-15 Star named to 2nd Lieutenant P.H.L.C. Colquhoun, Royal Highlanders. British War Medal and Victory Medal named to Captain P.H.L.C. Colquhoun. Memorial Plaque named to Philip Hugh Lumsden Campbell Colquhoun. In original card folder and with original paper envelope. Also with the group is a loose Mention in Despatches oak leaf emblem. Philip Hugh Lumsden Campbell Colquhoun was born on 9th September 1892 at Clathick, Crieff in the County of Perthshire. The youngest son of Captain William Campbell Colquhoun (late East Yorkshire Regiment), he was educated at Glenalmond College between September 1905 and Christmas 1915. His father was the grandson of a former Lord Advocate and his family were cadets of the Colquhouns of Luss. After leaving school he set about acquiring the knowledge to allow him to take up tea planting in India, eventually travelling to Assam in 1913. He came home after the declaration of war and received a commission in the 3rd Battalion, Black Watch. In June 1915 he joined the 1st Battalion in France and was appointed Lieutenant in October. On the 18th May 1916 he was severely wounded by a gunshot wound to a lung in the ‘Calonne Sector’, and while convalescing on sick leave he was asked to apply for a commission in the Indian Army. When he rejoined his battalion in France, he received notice that his application had been granted and that he might proceed to India at once but, on thinking the matter over, he decided to forego the appointment as it appeared to him, as he put it ‘too much like being a deserter’. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions during the attack on Vox Farm, Passchendaele, 19th November 1917. The citation for the award being published on 25th April 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When some platoons of his company lost their way during a relief, owing to heavy shell fire, and the guides becoming casualties, he went out into a heavy barrage, found the platoons and guided each one to its position. Later, when another company commander became a casualty, he took command of two companies, reorganised his line, and pushed forward posts to gain touch with the enemy. He showed great gallantry and initiative in reconnoitring routes, and brought out his two companies, when relieved without a casualty.’ He was then Mentioned in Despatches in Field Marshall Haig’s despatch of 21st December 1917. Colquhoun was appointed Machine-gun instructor at the 2nd Army School in March 1918, but rejoined the 1st Battalion in August and was put in command of ‘B’ Company. As the Chaplain of the school bears witness ‘he was too much of a soldier to remain an instructor, and was never really happy till he managed to get back to the fighting’. He was killed in action at the Hindenburg Line, shot through the head by a sniper whilst explaining the plan of attack to his officers on the morning of the 19th September 1918. The Battalion had been ordered forward to capture Fourmoy Alley and Sampson Trench on the high ground south of Pontruet. He was buried in Trefcon British Cemery. A brother officer wrote: ‘I had a very great admiration for him. He was always so cheerful and keen on everything which he took up. I know any of his men would have done anything for him and they were all devoted to him.’. Group comes with a full folder of research including CWGC information, copy black and white photograph of him uniform, photograph of his grave, copy papers, copy of the war diary for the date of death, communications with his school by a previous owner, and details of a previous sale of the group in Glendinnings as part of the Samson collection on 19th June 1991. (5) Nearly extremely fine