Serjeant John MacLaren Erskine VC (13 January 1894 – 14 April 1917) was a British Army soldier and a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

[1][2] He was 22 years old, and a serjeant in the 5th Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), British Army during the First World War, when he was awarded the VC for his actions on 22 June 1916 at Givenchy, France.

Whilst the near lip of a crater, caused by the explosion of a large enemy mine, was being consolidated, Actg.

Erskine rushed out under continuous fire with utter disregard of danger and rescued a wounded serjeant and a private.

Later, seeing his officer, who was believed to be dead, show signs of movement, he ran out to him, bandaged his head, and remained with him for fully an hour, though repeatedly fired at, whilst a shallow trench was being dug to them.