Bro. Sam Frickleton VC The Rangers Supporters Erskine Appeal was formed in 2007 by Rangers Fans in an effort to raise £1000 for the Erskine Home for Ex Service personnel. Such was the enthusiasm for the venture that it is still going strong 7 years later, with Rangers Fans working hard on a completely voluntary basis to raise over £560,000 for the Erskine Home. One of the Fundraising ventures is an Annual Golf Day, named in memory of the Scots Kiwi war hero. Golfers play in teams of 4 to compete for the Sam Frickleton VC Golf Trophy. But who is he? Samuel Frickleton was born on 2nd April 1891 at Old Lodge, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His father, also Samuel, was a coal miner, who came from Airdrie, Lanarkshire. He married Elizabeth Logan in 1877 at Holytown, Lanarkshire. Samuel Frickleton won his Victoria Cross during the attack at Messines on 7 June 1917. Later that same year he was presented with his VC on Ibrox Park by King George V. The citation notes that "although slightly wounded, Lance Corporal Frickleton dashed forward at the head of his section, rushed through a barrage and personally destroyed with bombs an enemy machine gun and crew, which were causing heavy casualties. He then attacked the second gun, killing the whole of the crew of twelve. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own and other units from very severe casualties and his magnificent courage and gallantry ensured the capture of the objective.” Bro. Frickleton was a member of Lodge Kawatiri, Scinde No 5 of Napier and Lodge Taia No 229 of Kilbirnie, NZ. He died following a long illness near Wellington, on 6th August 1971. He was buried in Taita Servicemen’s Cemetery, Naenae. In addition to his VC, he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and the New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal. His widow presented the medals to the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum in November 1977, where they are held. The RSEA presented a quaich to Mr Steve Tew, CEO of NZ Rugby All Blacks on 28th July 2014 to mark the occasion of the Kiwis visit to Ibrox Stadium and to commemorate that Bro. Frickleton received his VC on this pich 97 years before engraved with: “PRESENTED BY THE RANGERS SUPPORTERS ERSKINE APPEAL TO THE NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS TO MARK THE OCCASION OF THEIR APPEARANCE AT IBROX STADIUM, 2014”
Cross Keys November 2021
