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Macmillan, Gordon Holmes Alexander "Babe"

    Date of birth:
    January 6th, 1897 (Bangalore/Kingdom of Mysore, India)
    Date of death:
    January 21st, 1986 (Langbank/Renfrewshire, Scotland)
    Service number:
    5880
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    MacMillan was one of only 168 soldiers to receive the Military Cross (MC) and two Bars in the First World War.

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    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    August 25th, 1916
    Military Cross (MC)
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Awarded on:
    July 26th, 1917

    First bar for the MC
    Military Cross (MC)
    Period:
    First World War (1914-1918)
    Rank:
    Acting Captain
    Awarded on:
    1919
    "When the battalion advanced on the morning of October 10th, 1918, they came under exceptionally heavy shell fire crossing the high ground north-west of Le Cateau. The enemy's guns were firing chiefly over open sights. There were a large number of casualties, and momentarily the battalion became somewhat disorganised. He at once ran forward, and by his absolute fearlessness and gallant leadership was greatly instrumental in rallying the men and enabling the advance to be resumed. He led one of the front companies until it was reduced to six other ranks, and when the advance was held up, made his way back to battalion Headquarters over 600 yards of open country exposed to snipers, machine-gun fire and shelling, bringing a valuable report."

    Second bar for the MC
    Military Cross (MC)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Temporary Brigadier
    Awarded on:
    August 5th, 1943
    Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Temporary Brigadier
    Awarded on:
    November 18th, 1943
    Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Temporary Major-General
    Awarded on:
    August 9th, 1945
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Temporary Major-General
    Awarded on:
    April 4th, 1946
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Major-General
    Awarded on:
    July 18th, 1947

    Royal decree no. 29, dd. 24-4-1946.
    Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau met zwaarden (ON.2x)
    Rank:
    Lieutenant-general
    Awarded on:
    January 1st, 1949
    Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB, military division)
    Rank:
    General
    Awarded on:
    May 25th, 1954
    Knight/Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (K(D)CVO)

    War Diary mentions

    4 June 1944 WO 171/474 - 15 Reconnaissance Regiment
    The Div Comdr, Maj. General G.H.A. Macmillan, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., visited the Regt and talked to each Sqn regarding forthcoming ops. He lunched with R.H.Q. Mess afterwards. During this period the whole Regt was employed feverishly waterproofing vehs, teams being run as under:- 'A' Vehs - Lieut P.C. Kerridge – (Cars). 'A' Vehs – Lieut R.H. Fleet - (Carriers). 'B' Vehs - Lieut W.H. Rogers. By this date practically all stores were complete and the Regt could have moved at short notice.

    3 July 1944 WO 171/1297 - 2 Glasgow Highlanders
    Divisional Commander Maj General G.H.A. Macmillan D.S.O. visited and addressed the Bn. Capt J. Lewis taken on strength from 32 R.H.U.

    19 July 1944 WO 171/1297 - 2 Glasgow Highlanders
    The Divisional Commander MAJ/GEN G.H.A. Macmillan addressed the BN. Intermittent mortar fire throughout day.

    3 August 1944 WO 171/466 - 15 (Scottish) Infantry Division
    Maj Gen GHA Macmillan, CBE, DSO, MC, wounded.

    16 August 1944 WO 171/474 - 15 Reconnaissance Regiment
    Maj.Gen C.M. BARBER, DSO, who took over the Division on 8 Aug when Gen Macmillan was wounded, visited the Regiment and spoke to each Sqn to introduce himself, not that this was necessary as he had previously commanded 46 Bde, and to say that he felt that perhaps the Regiment was not always given credit for the work that was done by Senior Commanders who normally visited the Inf Bdes after the Division had done well in battle.

    Sources

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