John Daykins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Brunton Daykins
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Sgt. John Brunton Daykins V.C.
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| Born | 26 March 1883 Hawick, Scottish Borders |
| Died | 24 January 1933 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Buried |
Castlewood Cemetery, Jedburgh
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1918 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | Lothians and Border Horse The York and Lancaster Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Military Medal |
John Brunton Daykins was a very brave Scottish soldier. He received the Victoria Cross (VC) and the Military Medal (MM). The Victoria Cross is the highest and most respected award for courage. It is given to British and Commonwealth soldiers who show amazing bravery when facing the enemy.
Contents
A Hero's Journey: John Daykins' Life
John Brunton Daykins was born in Hawick, Scotland, in 1883. His family later moved to Jedburgh when he was a child.
Joining the Army
In 1914, John joined the army at the start of World War I. He became a soldier with the Lothians and Border Horse regiment. He fought in several important battles, including the Battle of Loos, the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and the Battle of Ypres.
After these tough battles, he became very ill with something called "Trench fever." This was a common illness during the war. Because of his sickness, he was discharged from the army.
Never Giving Up
John Daykins was a very determined person. He did not want to be seen as "unfit" to serve. He tried to rejoin the army three times! On his third try, he was successful. He joined a different regiment, the York and Lancaster Regiment.
He went back to the front lines and fought again in the Battle of Passchendaele and once more at Vimy Ridge.
Incredible Bravery in France
On October 30, 1918, John Daykins was in France with his platoon. They were near a town called Solesmes, Nord. John and about a dozen of his fellow soldiers bravely charged at an enemy machine-gun post.
During the intense close-quarters fighting, John fought bravely against many enemy soldiers. He helped his team achieve their goal. Then, he found another enemy machine-gun that was stopping his company's advance.
Under heavy enemy fire, he went forward alone towards the machine-gun post. Soon after, he returned with 25 captured enemy soldiers and their machine-gun! He then set up the captured machine-gun at his own position. His incredible courage and example inspired his fellow soldiers. His actions helped prevent many injuries and played a big part in the success of the attack. For this amazing bravery, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Returning Home
When John Daykins returned to Jedburgh, he was honored by the town. He was made a "burgess," which is a special title given to respected citizens. In 1924, he inherited his family's farm, Howden farm, after his father passed away.
Remembering a Hero: Death and Legacy
John Daykins passed away in 1933 after an accident. He was not married, so his medals went to his sister, Elizabeth Daykins. She later gave his medals to the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum. This museum is located inside Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham.
John Brunton Daykins is still remembered today. There is a street in Hawick named after him. In 2018, Jedburgh placed a special commemorative paving stone to honor him. A special event was also held in Jedburgh and in Solesmes, France, to mark 100 years since his incredible act of bravery.
