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John Kendrick Skinner VC, DCM was born in Glasgow to Walter C. Skinner, a tailor's cutter, and Mary Skinner née Kendrick. He was educated at Queen's Park Higher Grade School and Allan Glen's School in the city.
Skinner was an acting Company Sergeant Major in the 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, British Army, when he became the recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
In the First World War he was 34 years old and exhibited "most conspicuous bravery and good leading" during the Battle of Passchendaele on 18 August 1917 at Wijdendrift, Belgium, for which he received the Victoria Cross.
His citation reads:
C.S.M Skinner received the medal from King George V at an investiture in Buckingham Palace on 26 September 1917. Following the investiture he was granted the customary fourteen days' leave after which he was posted to the Reserve Battalion in Edinburgh. A few days later, however, he was seen in the line, having risked a court-martial to return to his men.
He was killed in action, Vlamertinghe, Belgium, on 17 March 1918, when trying to rescue a wounded man. and was buried at Vlamertinghe New British Cemetery, Belgium. 3m W of Ypres. Plot XVI. Row H. Grave 15. His pall bearers were six fellow-VCs with three others in attendance.
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