Private Robert Quigg
108th Infantry Brigade, 12th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
(Mid Antrim Volunteers)

For most conspicuous bravery at Hamel, France
1st July 1916

Age : 31

died on May 14th 1955 aged 70 in Ballycastle, County Antrim. He was buried with full military honours in Billy parish churchyard.

VC Publicly displayed at the Royal Ulster Rifles museum (Belfast, Northern Ireland) along with his Medal of the order of St George 4th class, which was presented to him by Russia

On the morning of July 1st, the Mid-Antrim Volunteers met a fierce response from the German machine gunners as they emerged from Thiepval Wood. Robert advanced to the assault with his Platoon three times. Early next morning hearing a rumour that his Platoon Officer was laying out wounded, he went out seven times to look for him, under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, each time bringing back a wounded man. The last man he dragged in on a waterproof sheet from within a few yards of the enemy’sPrivate wire. He was seven hours engaged in this most gallant work, and finally was so exhausted that he had to give it up. .
These heroic actions earned Robert Quigg his Victoria Cross which was gazetted on September 9th 1916. Harry McNaghten was never recovered from the battlefield.
On January 8th 1917 Robert Quigg travelled to Sandringham House in Norfolk to receive his decoration from King George V. A story at the time relates that when the presentation was being made, the king commented, "You're a very brave man Quigg".
To which Robert replied, "You're a brave man yourself king".
He saw out the war and remained in the army, being promoted to Sergeant and finally retiring in 1926 after an accident in Belfast.
In 1929 Robert attended the VC reunion dinner held in the Royal Gallery at the House of Lords and 1953 Robert Quigg was presented to the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II.

Second from left is Volunteer Robert Quigg VC - 12TH Battalion Royal Irish Rifles
Pictured receiving an award at the Ulster Hall in 1954. "A Brave Wee Man".

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER HIM

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