He was posthumously awarded the VC for his actions during an attack near the French village of Fricourt on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme.

He volunteered for the British Army's London Scottish Regiment but was not considered for service in South Africa on account of his age.

Having attained the rank of lance corporal, his service ended in 1901 but he remained in South Africa, working for a merchant company at Port Elizabeth.

He left after a few years to take up a position in Ceylon, his place of birth, as a tea merchant; his father was instrumental in securing him the role.

[1] On the outbreak of the First World War, Loudoun-Shand, as he was now known following the change by deed poll of his family name,[2] travelled to England to volunteer for service with the British Army.

[2] For 1 July 1916, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme, the 62nd Brigade was tasked with securing the area around the village of Fricourt, held by the Germans.

When his company attempted to climb over the parapet to attack the enemy's trenches, they were met by very fierce machine gun fire, which temporarily stopped their progress.