Revolutionary Valcho the Macedonian

Valcho Dobrev Andov, called Valcho the Macedonian, was a Bulgarian revolutionary and member of Botev's detachment.

Biography: Andov was born in Veles, then part of the Ottoman Empire and now in North Macedonia. He later emigrated to Wallachia. His brother, the teacher Dimitar Andov, sent him money several times while he was there. In 1868, he ran a bakery in Galați, where he sheltered Arseniy Martinov, who was killed during the campaign of Hadzhi Dimitar and Stefan Karadzha's detachment. Following an investigation, Andov was arrested and spent three months in prison, but was released on bail paid with money sent by Filip Totyu. Totyu recruited him for preparations for a new detachment in spring 1876, and he agreed to participate.

Andov was an experienced revolutionary fighter and was appointed leader of ten men in Botev's detachment. He was described as high-spirited, humorous, resilient and dutiful. He was among the detachment members 'experienced with weapons' and observed its discipline and headquarters' orders. He fought in various battles and engagements, including the skirmish near Banitsa and the Battle of Milin Kamak, where he witnessed the detachment's first casualties.

Valcho Andov's name is inscribed as Valcho the Macedonian on the western side of the old Hristo Botev monument in Vratsa.