John Hamblin's Research: Surnames M-McL

MacDonald Alan Richard Flying Officer 130994

No. 5 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 30th of October 1943 aged 21
Alan Richard Macdonald was born in Kirkcudbrightshire on the 5th of December 1921 the son of William Elder Macdonald MA and Grace Eileen Macdonald of The Schoolhouse, Balmaclellan by Castle Douglas, formerly of Penang and of South Africa.
He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1934 to 1940 where he was a member of the 1st Rugby XV. As soon as he left school he volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained in the UK and Canada where he was awarded his "Wings". He rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 25th of September 1942. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 25th of March 1943.
Alan Macdonald and his crew took off from RAF Long Kesh at 7.44pm on the 29th of October 1943 in Hudson Mk 1 T9352 for a night cross country exercise to St Kilda via Barra Head and back to RAF Long Kesh. The weather along the route was forecast to be good with some haze to the east. The crew was required to make radio contact every half an hour during the flight and the duration of the flight was expected to be four hours. There were two other aircraft from the unit undertaking the same exercise. Having taken off, the aircraft commenced the exercise at 7.50pm and the pilot reported that they were changing frequency at 8.06pm after which no further communication was heard from the aircraft apart from a weak signal at 11.03pm. After this message, nothing was heard from the aircraft. At 12.23am an aircraft, which was later thought to have possibly been the Hudson, was heard approaching Oban, at a height of around 3,000 feet. After making a circuit of the town it departed some twelve minutes later heading towards the north west. A plot, which was believed to be the aircraft, was picked up at 1.50am some 10 miles to the south east of Rhins Point. At 1.30am a further plot put the aircraft as heading down the Firth of Lorne in a south, south westerly direction but after this nothing further was heard and the aircraft is believed to have ditched into the sea with the loss of the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Pilot Officer Alan Richard MacDonald (Pilot)
Flight Sergeant Ronald Henry Robert Morton RAAF (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Earl Kitchener Maden RCAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant John Ross Baxter RCAF (Air Gunner)
A search by three Hudsons and a Beaufort aircraft was undertaken between 8.53am and 1.58pm but no trace of the aircraft was found. The body of Ronald Morton was washed ashore at Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye on the 9th of December 1943.
A Court of Enquiry was convened under Wing Commander A.W. Kay to report on the circumstances of the loss of the aircraft. The court noted that: - "F/O MacDonald, who was described by his Flight Commander as a competent pilot of average ability but inclined to over confidence, had a total solo flying experience of 382 hours on all types, 119 ½ hrs. of which had been in Hudsons (16 being by night). He had flown 48 hours by instruments and had completed 73 hours on the Link Trainer."
The report concluded that: - "The primary cause of the accident was that Captain F/O MacDonald disobeyed the briefing instructions given by F/O E.F.C. Brown that he did not immediately return to Base after failing to obtain W/T communication and is therefore to be held responsible for this accident."
Following his death, his parents dedicated the "Alan MacDonald Nature Section" to the College library.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 125

MacDonald, Colin Lorne Bimbashi (Major) B/264

Frontier Battalion, Sudan Defence Force
Killed in action on the 1st of April 1941 aged 29
Colin Lorne MacDonald was born at Arrochar the son of the Reverend Coll Archibald MacDonald DD and Mary Isabella (nee Macgregor) MacDonald of the Manse of Logierait, Ballinluig, Athol, later of 16, Royal Circus, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1923 and went on to Edinburgh University where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and graduated with Honours in History in 1934. On leaving university he joined the Sudan Political Service.
He was killed in action in a night attack at Debre Markos, in Abyssinia.
In a letter to his father dated the 4th of April 1941, his commanding officer wrote: - "A few nights ago Colin went out from me into a night attack on an enemy fort north of Debre Markos. It was the third of its kind in which he had taken part and he led two platoons of the company he was commanding into the attack. Turrell, an ex-officer of the Great War was with him. They were surprised by an outer line of enemy trenches but silenced them with bombs. Shortly after midnight they were close up to the enemy's main position ready for the attack. Colin and Turrell ahead and only some ten yards from the enemy position. They opened their own bombs and whilst leading his men Colin was shot through the head by a bullet. He was immediately unconscious. Turrell brought him back in the dark in a fierce rainstorm and through a storm of bombs and bullets from the enemy. But the lad never regained consciousness. It was not until we were leaving the high hill camp where we had spent the last two nights together that I heard Turrell's news. We laid him beneath the cypress trees in the church yard on the hill west facing the hills on which he had looked with much joy and beneath the shadow of which he fell in battle. There, after the elders of the church had prayed over him as is their custom, I held a brief service from the Bible...."
His body was exhumed on the 21st of January 1943 and moved to its present location.
A correspondent wrote: - "He lies among the cypress and the wild flowers on that fragrant hill-top, kissed by the sun and the wind, in a country of wild and extraordinary beauty, facing the enduring hills that reminded him so strongly of the hills of home."
He is commemorated on the war memorial at the Isle of Iona.
He is buried at Addis Ababa War Cemetery Plot 2 Row B Grave 17

MacDonald Lewis Gordon Grant Craftsman 3057086

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Killed in action on the 13th of February 1944 aged 22
Lewis Gordon Grant "Sandy" MacDonald was born at Edinburgh on the 5th of March 1921 the youngest son of Colin MacDonald, of the Scottish Land Court, and Margaret S. MacDonald of "Achterneed", 46, Comiston Court, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to 1938 where he was a keen student of French and Russian literature. On leaving school he joined the staff of Messrs. McVitie & Price, biscuit manufacturers of Edinburgh. He played for the Watsonians Hockey XI and was a great lover of the Scottish Highlands.
Before the war he joined the Territorial Army in the Royal Scots and later transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He served in Egypt, Sicily and in Italy. He was killed in action during the fighting for the Anzio beachhead.
He is buried at Anzio War Cemetery Plot III Row C Grave 2

Macfie, Kenneth Charles Ker 2nd Lieutenant 315373

1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Killed in action on the 12th of May 1944 aged 26
Kenneth Charles Ker Macfie was born at Cochabamba, Bolivia on the 30th of August 1917 the son of Charles William Macfie, a civil engineer, and Jessie Rose Macfie of Bolivia, later of 19, West Mayfield, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1926 to 1935. On leaving school he was apprenticed to a firm of Chartered Accountants.
He enlisted as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery in early 1939 and served in the North African campaign from 1941 to 1943. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the 29th of January 1944.
In their defence of Italy, the Germans had constructed a series of defensive lines across the country to slow the Allied advance up the country. One of these was known as the Gustav Line and pivoted around the monastery of Monte Cassino where the Allied advance had stagnated over the winter of 1943/44. The 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders arrived in the area in March 1944 where they spent their time holding the line and patrolling. In early May they moved to Volturno where they trained in river crossings. On the 7th of May 1944, their commanding officer called a meeting to issue orders for an attack on the Gustav Line which would begin on the 11th of May and would attack the Cassino sector and break out into the Liri Valley beyond. The Argylls were to be on the left of the Brigade assault and were to be deployed with D Company on the right and with C Company leading the assault across the River Garigliano. A Company on the right and B Company on the left were to act as a reserve to the two leading Companies. The assault was to be supported by a very heavy artillery barrage to protect the assault teams as they crossed the river.
On the night of the 8th of May the assault craft were taken down to the river and hidden in irrigation ditches in preparation for the attack. Due to enemy machine gun fire these were 500 yards from the river, much further away than had been intended. On the 9th of May the assault vehicles were gathered and concealed and the men headed towards the jumping off point on the 10th of May. The day of the attack, the 11th of May 1944, was spent in rest and at 10.30pm that night, the assault companies began their move forward. At 11.40pm, the massive barrage opened up on the enemy positions across the river, immediately drawing return fire from the German defenders who were now fully alerted. Due to the long distance the boats had to be carried, eight were initially launched with only two not being either holed or swept away in the strong current. These two boats managed to cross to the far bank where they were met by barbed wire and heavy machine gun fire. On the near bank things were equally desperate with the Germans dropping smoke shells in the area causing the visibility to drop to nil and added to this was accurate mortar and machine gun fire which caused heavy casualties among the Scots. The D Company commander, Major John Hunter, and Kenneth Macfie had been killed and three other officers had been wounded during the attack. With the inability of the supporting Canadian armour to cross the river it was decided that the survivors on the far bank would have to hang on unsupported, which they did throughout the following day, under heavy fire. With their position becoming untenable, these men were withdrawn back across the river the following night.
He is buried at Cassino War Cemetery Plot III Row F Grave 7

MacGregor, Iain O'Brien Lieutenant Colonel 18220

154 (Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
Killed in action on the 16th of June 1944 aged 44
Iain O'Brien MacGregor was born at Gorleston, Norfolk on the 4th of February 1901 the younger son of Lieutenant Colonel John MacGregor, Indian Army Medical Service, and Mabel MacGregor. He was educated at Inverness High School and at George Watson's College from 1909 to 1915. He went on to Imperial Service College until 1918 where he was being appointed as a Head Boy in 1917. On leaving school he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich from 1918 to 1920 before being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1920. He was seconded to the Royal Air Force on the 14th of March 1923 for a period of four years, with the rank of Flying Officer, and won both the Royal Air Force and the Inter-Services Boxing Championships.
He was married at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton on the 9th of July 1927 to Edith Joan (nee Harrison). They had a daughter, Jean Marie, born on the 3rd of August 1929, and lived at Woodlands Cottage, South Farnborough in Hampshire. The couple separated but moved in together again in September 1930. He filed for divorce on the 23rd of May 1932 on the grounds of his wife’s adultery with Peter Sherriff, which was alleged to have taken place between August 1930 and May 1932.
He was granted a decree nisi in October 1932. He was remarried in London in 1935 to Diana Evelyn (nee Uniacke) and they lived at "White Gates", Portsmouth Road, Camberley in Surrey. They had two children, Sandy and Robin.
He gained a Royal Aero Club Certificate at the Wiltshire School of Flying on the 22nd of August 1932.
He returned to the army and served in India from 1928, but was re-seconded to the Royal Air Force with the rank of Honorary Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of October 1934, with seniority from the 1st of October 1930. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 1st of April 1935. He was seconded to the Royal Air Force for a third time on the 1st of January 1938 with the rank of Squadron Leader but relinquished his commission on the 31st of October 1939 and returned to the army.
He was promoted to Major on the 1st of August 1938 and to Lieutenant Colonel on the 19th of April 1942, and was appointed to the command of 113 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery the same year. He served with them in North Africa as part of the 8th Army and was appointed to the command of 154 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery on the 18th of November 1943.
He was riding a motorcycle when he was involved in a traffic accident at Venafro in Italy and died from head injuries.
He is buried at Cassino War Cemetery Plot XVIII Row D Grave 10

Mackellar, James Oliphant Major 118022 MC and Bar

2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders attached to the 4th (Pahang) Battalion, Federated Malay States Volunteer Force
Died on the 12th of March 1945 aged 50
James Oliphant "Gertie" Mackellar was born at Denny, Falkirk in Stirlingshire on the 13th of November 1894 the only son of the Reverend Duncan Campbell Mackellar, United Free Church, Denny, and Mary Maclaren (nee Oliphant) Mackellar of Broompark Manse, Denny. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1906 to 1914. He was Captain of the school, Captain of the 1st Rugby XV in 1914 and was a member of the 1st Cricket XI. He had intended to prepare for entrance to the Indian Police but, on the outbreak of war, he enlisted as a Private in the 9th (Service) Battalion, Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) in 1914. He was selected for officer training and entered the Royal Military College Sandhurst in December 1914. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the 12th of May 1915. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion of his regiment and embarked for France on the 25th of August 1915. He was awarded the Military Cross in the King's Birthday Honours List, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 4th of June 1917. He won a Bar to his Military Cross, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 26th of July 1917 and the citation read: - "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great skill in handling his company in an attack on enemy trenches, capturing a large section of trench, and killing and capturing many of the enemy. He personally supervised the work of establishing strong posts, which was successfully accomplished under heavy enfilade fire from hostile machine guns, and his coolness and energy were most marked."
He was also Mentioned in Despatches.
He was appointed as an Aide de Camp and was seconded to the General Staff on the 1st of September 1918. On the 1st of February 1920, he was seconded for service as an Assistant Commandant of a Military Detention Barracks in Ireland. He relinquished the acting rank of Captain on the 1st of April 1920 and returned to his Battalion on the 5th of April 1920. He retired from the army and joined the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Captain on the 28th of May 1922.
On the 13th of April 1923, he embarked on board the SS Khyber at London and landed at Melbourne, Australia where he worked as a pig farmer and lived at Junction Road, Blackburn, Victoria. He later moved to Ceylon, where he worked as a tea planter on an estate. In 1940, he volunteered to rejoin his old battalion which was based in Malaya and he arrived there complete with the sword he had worn during the Great War. While he was there he played for the Garrison Golf Club. He was known in the Battalion as "Gertie" due to his fair complexion, blue eyes and rosy cheeks. A short time later, his services were requested by Brigadier Moir of the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force and he took command of the 4th (Pahang) Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
He was captured on the fall of Singapore on the 15th of February 1942, and was interned as a prisoner. In December 1944, he was found to have contracted stomach cancer when he had been transferred from the prisoner of war camp at Tamuang to Nong Pladuk on the Burma railway that month. His condition was considered as inoperable and he was unable to eat so he was put on a special high calorie diet and fed through a tube. His friend, Eric Moss described him as "A very mannerly fellow", and described how he maintained that he had no religious beliefs. When Moss teased him that he was really an agnostic, he responded by thumping the table and saying *Once and for all just get it in your head that I'm an atheist!" Knowing that his death was nearing, he had planned his own funeral which, despite his earlier protestations, included the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm. The funeral was conducted at Nong Pladuk by Ernest Gordon and Major Hugh John "Jack" Hyslop.
He was Mentioned in Despatches.
He is commemorated on the Denny Town war memorial, the Denney Cemetery Memorial and on a family gravestone in Denny Cemetery.
He is buried at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery Plot 8 Row A Grave 29

Mackenzie, Eric Lofts Colonel 188244 DSO MC

South African Medical Corps
Killed on active service on the 19th of December 1942
Eric Lofts Mackenzie was the son of Colonel John Mackenzie, South African Medical Corps, of Kimberley, South Africa. He was educated at Kimberley High School and at George Watson's College from 1901 to 1902. He attended Edinburgh University where he read medicine and graduated MB ChB in 1914. He served as a Cadet Corporal in the University Cadet Corps from 1903 to 1908 and as a Cadet Company Sergeant Major in the Officer Training Corps from 1908 to 1914. On leaving university he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 9th of August 1914 and served with 1st Division throughout the war. He was married at St Nicholas with Wisley Parish Church, Pyrford, Surrey on the 16th of December 1915 to Norah Alison Hume (nee Watt) later of Germiston. They had two sons, Bruce and Kenneth.
He was promoted to Captain on the 9th of August 1915 and to Acting Major in May 1918. He served in France throughout the war, was Mentioned in Despatches in February 1916 and was awarded the Military Cross in the King’s New Years Honours List of the 1st of January 1917. At the end of the war he returned to South Africa where he was appointed Surgeon-Consultant to the South African Railways at Port Elizabeth. On the outbreak of war in 1939 he joined the South African Medical Corps with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and saw action in North Africa.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, which was announced by the War Office on the 9th of September 1942. The recommendation for the award read: -
"For conspicuous gallantry and outstanding devotion to duty over a sustained period during the ops in Western Desert from 28 Nov 41. During a period of over three months Lt. Col. Mackenzie has personally carried out many surgical operations of extreme difficulty and danger. These surgical operations were often carried out under constant and intensive enemy air attacks or under heavy shell fire. By the speed and efficiency with which they were executed Lt. Col. Mackenzie has been the direct cause of saving many lives. In particular during a heavy bombing attack on 28 Nov by enemy aircraft Lt Col Mackenzie was buried in his slit trench and slightly injured. The attack caused fairly heavy casualties in the column and Lt Col Mackenzie in spite of his injuries and regardless of danger from the air attack which was still being sustained, set in motion surgical operations in the Field Ambulance. The personal courage and devotion to his professional duties were an inspiration and example to all ranks of the Field Ambulance."
He was promoted to Colonel and was appointed as Director of Medical Services a short time later.
In the early hours of the morning of the 19th of December 1942, Eric Mackenzie boarded Lockheed Lodestar 18 No. 248 at Kisumu in Kenya for a leg of a journey from Cairo to South Africa. Also on board were a number of South African officers and men, one of whom was General Daniel Pienaar. General Peinaar had made it clear to the pilot that he expected the journey to be as quick as possible, although the pilot had flown 1,800 miles in the previous 24 hours and had only had six hours sleep. As the aircraft took off from Kisumu there was an electrical failure on board which meant that the crew was unable to raise the undercarriage and to lock it in place. The pilot decided to return to the airfield but, losing height and speed, the aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Kavirondon at Lake Victoria, some sixteen kilometres from the airfield, killing all on board.
The crew was: -
Captain James Douglas Mail AFC SAAF
Lieutenant Willem B. Lloyd SAAF
Air Sergeant Cecil V. Flusk SAAF
Air Corporal Louis Lafayette SAAF
The passengers were: -
General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar CB, DSO and Bar 1st South African Infantry Division
Colonel Frederick Theron DSO South African Artillery
Lieutenant Colonel Eric Vickers Frykberg 1st South African Divisional Signals, South African Corps of Signals
Major John W.A. Bell South African Intelligence Corps
Colonel Eric Lofts Mackenzie DSO MC South African Medical Corps
Major Frank Rawlins Q Service Corps, South African Forces
Captain Peter Henry Barnsfather-Cloete Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles, South African Forces attached to 1st South African Division Headquarters Staff
Sergeant Archibald F. Weldon South African Reserve Mechanical Transport
He is buried at Old No. 1Thaba Tshwane Military Cemetery Row L Grave 4

Mackenzie, George Fingal Third Engineer Officer

SS Oriskany, Merchant Navy
Killed in action on the 24th of February 1945 aged 24
George Fingal Mackenzie was born at Dumfries on the 29th of April 1920 the son of the Reverend G. O. Mackenzie, Minister of Minto, Hawick, and Elizabeth Mackenzie of 4, Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh, later of 64, Frederick Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1933 to 1935 when he left to enter the Technical College at Hull. On leaving college he joined the staff at the Blackburn Aircraft Works where he studied aeronautical engineering. In July 1939, he joined the crew of the cargo ship MV Bonnington Court as ninth engineer for a round the world voyage and had reached Shanghai when the war broke out.
On the 23rd of February 1945, the 1,644 ton steam merchant SS Oriskany, under the command of Master David Souter Morrison, left Milford Haven as part of Convoy BTC-78 bound for Southend. The convoy consisted of nine ships in two columns escorted by the Canadian corvette, HMCS Algoma and the minesweeper HMS Tadoussac. Bringing up the rear was the motor launch HMS ML-344. At 4.15am the following morning SS Oriskany was to the west of Lands End when she was attacked and sunk by the U Boat U-1208, under the command of Korvettenkapitän Georg Hagene. The entire ship's complement of twenty one crewmen, seven naval staff, including the convoy Commodore, Commander Ian Neil Macmillan RNR, and four gunners were all killed during the attack. At 12.30pm the same day U-1208 was attacked with depth charges by the frigates HMS Rowley and HMS Duckworth and was sunk with the loss of all hands.
He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial Panel 76

Mackenzie, Ian Fraser Flying Officer 123952

90 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 27th of April 1943 aged 31
Ian Fraser Mackenzie was born at Uddingston, South Lanarkshire on the 30th of April 1911 the son of James Purves Mackenzie, a solicitor, and Catherine Graham (nee Fraser) Mackenzie of "Tullochard", Grangemouth. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1921 to 1929 when he went on to Edinburgh University where he achieved MA and LL.B. After a period in his father's office he became a partner in the firm of Messrs. Blackadder, Blane & Mackenzie, solicitors of Falkirk. He was a keen rugby player and a first-class golfer. He was married to Christina Graham of Uddingston, Lanarkshire.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in November 1940 where he trained as a pilot. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 25th of December 1942. On the night of the 26th/27th of April 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 215 Lancasters, 135 Wellingtons, 119 Halifaxes, 78 Stirlings and 14 Mosquitos for an operation on Duisburg. Although the Pathfinders claimed to have marked the target accurately, it was later reported that the bulk of the bombing, which took place between 2.17am and 3.12am, fell to the north east of the city. Despite this, some 300 buildings were reported as destroyed with the number of dead on the ground estimated to have been between 130 and 207.
Ian Mackenzie and his crew took off from RAF Ridgewell at 12.37am on the 27th of April 1943 in Stirling Mk 1 BF383 WF-T for the operation. While returning from the target the aircraft was attacked and shot down by a night fighter and crashed into the Ljsselmeer at 3.37am with the loss of the entire crew. It is thought that the aircraft was shot down by Hauptmann Werner Husemann of NJG1, one of an eventual thirty four victories; he survived the war.
The crew was: -
Flying Officer Ian Fraser Mackenzie (Pilot)
Sergeant Joseph Wilson (Flight Engineer)
Pilot Officer Philip Alsop Walker (Navigator)
Sergeant Ronald Francis Cocking (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Victor George Leak (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant James Rilby Boyes (Air Gunner)
Sergeant Robert Edward Hardingham (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of seventeen aircraft which were lost on the raid.
Parts of the remains of the aircraft were recovered in November 1965 when the wreckage was snagged by fishing nets.
He is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial Panel 126

Mackinnon, James Huntly Macdonald Flight Lieutenant 106816

213 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 23rd of March 1945 aged 24
James Huntly Macdonald Mackinnon was born at Edinburgh on the 15th of September 1920 the son of Sheriff James Alexander Rudolf Mackinnon MA LLB, Sheriff of Dundee, and Patricia MacDonald Mackinnon of "Thornlea", Forfar in Angus. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1926 to 1934. He went on to Fettes College where he was a boarder in Moredun House from 1934 to 1938. He was a member of the Fives team for two years and of the Athletics team and won the Open Steeplechase in 1938. On leaving school he took up a career in farming.
He was married and had a daughter, Patricia.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1940 and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 20th of August 1941. He was confirmed in his rank and was promoted to Flying Officer on the 20th of August 1942 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 20th of August 1943.
He was posted to 127 Squadron, based at St Jean in Palestine in February 1942 and was later posted to 209 Group at Heliopolis in Egypt as a flying instructor. He also served in France and Italy and joined 213 Squadron in the middle of 1944.
James Mackinnon took off from Zara in Mustang Mk III KH421 at 5.25am on the morning of the 23rd of March 1945, along with two other pilots from the Squadron for an armed reconnaissance of enemy communications between Ljubljana and Maribor. They began by attacking a train with 30 trucks onboard on which they dropped two 500lbs bombs, scoring direct hits on the trucks. They then strafed a train which had two locomotives and ten trucks, disabling one locomotive and damaging the other as well as strafing the coaches. A short time later they used their machine guns to attack another train made up of ten coaches which was heading north. They disabled the locomotive and strafed enemy troops as they fled from the coaches. Flying on, they disabled another locomotive which was sitting in a siding with ten to fifteen wagons attached to it before attacking another which was heading south and was pulling eight coaches; this too was disabled. They then disabled another locomotive which was pulling fifteen wagons before disabling another and strafing its six carriages. They then disabled two further locomotives before spotting another, which had a cargo of twenty trucks, sitting in a siding facing south. They attacked it, damaging the locomotive and seeing strikes on the trucks and a flak car which was silenced. During the attack James Mackinnon's aircraft was hit by anti aircraft fire from a 20mm flak gun and caught fire. He pulled it up to 1,500 feet before bailing out. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed while his body was seen to fall to the ground without the parachute having deployed. HIs two comrades attacked two further enemy locomotives before landing back at Zara at 8.15am.
The Fettes College magazine, the Fettesian, wrote of him: - "Mackinnon was at Fettes a small and very cheerful person. Those who knew him will regret the loss of one who had a very attractive personality."
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Old High St Stephen's Church, Church Street, Inverness and on the memorial at Fettes College.
He is buried at Belgrade War Cemetery Plot 5 Row A Grave 8

Maclachlan Alastair Robert Anderson Flight Lieutenant 121205 DFC

156 (Pathfinder) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 7th of September 1943 aged 21
Alastair Robert Anderson Maclachlan was born on the 16th of January 1922 the elder son of Donald Ker Fulton Maclachlan, a mining engineer, and Margaret Hogg Maclachlan of 11, Holyhead Road, Wellington, Shropshire, of Rhodesia and of 17, Savile Terrace (West), Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1929 to 1939. He was awarded the Midland Counties Colliery Burners Association Bursary to study mining engineering at Sheffield University.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on probation on the 28th of April 1942. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on the 14th of August 1942 and the citation read: - "This officer is employed as captain of aircraft. Throughout the numerous sorties in which he has participated he has displayed exceptional tenacity and has pressed home his attacks with the utmost vigour. He has on two occasions been attacked by an enemy fighter, but his skilful manoeuvring has enabled his gunner to shoot one of them down in flames and probably destroyed the other. Amongst many of the enemy targets he has attacked such important places as Brest, Cologne, Hamburg, Essen and Rostock."
He was married at Sheffield in 1941 to Gabrielle Ruth (née Hermitte) of Kensington.
He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 30th of October 1942.
On the night of the 6th/7th of September 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 257 Lancasters and 147 Halifaxes for an operation on Munich. The target was covered with cloud and both the sky and ground marking was largely ineffective. Most of the crews made a timed approach from the direction of Ammersee Lake, some 21 miles from the target, with the result that the bombing was scattered over the southern and western areas of the city.
Alastair Maclachlan and his crew took off from RAF Warboys at 8.10pm on the 6th of September 1943 in Lancaster Mk III JB177 GT- for the operation. While in the target area, the aircraft was shot down by a Messerschmitt Bf110 flown by Hauptman Manfred Meurer of II./NJG5 at 12.40am and crashed in the Sauerlach district of the city with the loss of four of the crew. Theirs was one of an eventual sixty five victories for Manfred Meurer before he was killed in action on the 22nd of January 1944.
The crew was:
Flying Officer Norman Henry Carter (Air Bomber)
Flight Sergeant Walter Owen Earl Chambers RCAF (Air Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Albert Colin Dalton (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Flight Lieutenant Alastair Robert Maclachlan (Pilot)
Sergeant David Henry Evans (POW No.22691 Stalag Luft VIB)
Flying Officer Walter Aandrew Kerry (POW No.2369 Stalag Luft III)
Sergeant Leslie Ducat RCAF (POW No. 555 Stalag Luft VI)
Theirs was one of three aircraft from the Squadron which failed to return from the raid and one of sixteen aircraft lost overall. The bodies of the crewmembers who died were interred at West Friedhof, Munich on the 12th of September 1943 but were exhumed in 1948 and moved to their present site.
He is buried at Durnbach War Cemetery Plot 7 Row E Grave 18

Makepeace, Patrick William Hugh Third Mate

SS Benvrackie, Merchant Navy
Killed in action on the 13th of May 1941 aged 21
Patrick William Hugh "Pat" Makepeace was born at Musselburgh on the 30th of November 1919 the son of Tom Makepeace and Annie Makepeace of "Belmont", South Morton Street, Joppa, Edinburgh, later of "The Crofts", Papcastle, Cockermouth in Cumberland. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1925 to 1936. On leaving school he began an apprenticeship as a Cadet on the SS Ben Wyvis after which he completed his training at Leith Nautical College. He joined the crew of the 6,434 ton steam merchant SS Benvrackie in April 1941.
SS Benvrakie, under the command of Master William Edward Rawlings Eyton-Jones, set sail from London bound for Loch Ewe, Capetown and Beira with 5,850 tons of general cargo including silver and a Gypsy Moth aircraft. They joined Convoy OB-312, which was made up of twenty one merchant ships and was accompanied by fourteen escorts which assembled off Liverpool and set sail on the 18th of April 1941. On the 25th of April the convoy was ordered to disperse. On the 9th of May 1941 SS Benvrackie picked up twenty five survivors from the motor merchant SS Lassell which had been sunk by the U Boat U-107 on the 30th of April. On the 11th of May, SS Benvrackie was spotted by the U-Boat U-105, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg Schewe. The ship was zig zagging when U-105 fired a Gnat G7a torpedo at her at 8.30pm. Having missed with the first torpedo, a G7e torpedo was fired at 8.54pm which also missed. They stalked the ship throughout the following day and at 7.48am on the 13th of May 1941, while steaming some 700 miles to the southwest of Freetown, SS Benvrakie was hit in the aft section by two G7e torpedoes. She sank in four minutes with the loss of 13 of her crew and 15 of the SS Lassell survivors. The Master, 40 of the crew, 4 gunners and 10 survivors from the SS Lassell took to the lifeboats and were questioned by the crew of the U-Boat before it submerged and left them to their fate. They were picked up after thirteen days adrift by the British hospital ship HMHS Oxfordshire and were landed at Freetown.
He is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial Panel 16

Marsden Richard Rowland David Sergeant 1569477 (PUT)

No. 20 Service Flying Training School, Royal Air Force
Killed on active service on the 13th of July 1943 aged 20
Richard Rowland David Marsden was born on the 14th of February 1923 the only son of John Marsden and Hannah Louisa Marsden of 123, Craigentinny Avenue, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1935 to 1940 after which he went on to Edinburgh University to study medicine.
He volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1942 and was posted for pilot training to Rhodesia with No. 20 Service Flying Training School based at Cranbourne, where he gained his "Wings."
On the 13th of July 1943, Richard Marsden took off in Harvard Mk II AJ744 with fellow student pilot Sergeant William Bramwell Keffington Lewis for a training exercise. Both men were killed when the aircraft crashed some 10 miles to the north of Mount Hampden, South Rhodesia.
He is buried at Pioneer Cemetery, Harare European War Grave Plot Grave 105

Marshall, William Keay Falconer Sergeant 1375102

97 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 28th of April 1942 aged 26
William Keay Falconer Marshall was born at Braklemoss, Kinross on the 5th of September 1915 the younger son of John Albert Marshall, a solicitor, and Maud Barbara Bryce Keay (nee Falconer) Marshall of 69, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh. He was educated at John Watson’s School, Edinburgh from 1924 to 1929 and at George Watson’s College from 1929 to 1933 where he was a member of the 1st Cricket XI in 1931 and 1932 and topped the bowling averages. On leaving school he went to work for the Kinross Branch of The Royal Bank of Scotland and transferred to the London Branch at Bishopsgate in 1936.
He enlisted in the Royal Volunteer Reserve in 1940 where he trained as a wireless operator and was posted to 97 Squadron.
On the 27th of April 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 33 Halifaxes and 12 Lancasters, to attack the German battleship Tirpitz which was sheltering at Faettenfjord to the north east of Trondheim. Six of the Lancasters were from 97 Squadron and were to be in the vanguard of the attack. Each aircraft was carrying a 4,000lb bomb which was to be dropped from a height of 6,000 feet. In addition, each aircraft also carried four 500lb bombs to be used to attack enemy flak and searchlight positions. The Halifaxes were to follow by dropping mines alongside the enemy ship from a height of 150 feet. The attacking force arrived at bases in the north of Scotland on the 23rd of April in preparation for the attack.
William Marshall and his crew took off from RAF Lossiemouth at 8.20pm on the 27th of April 1942 in Lancaster Mk 1 L7572 OG-L for the operation. They were due to pass over the target at 12.30am. The aircraft reached the target area during the first phase of the attack when enemy smoke ships began emitting thick smoke to obscure the battleship and flak batteries opened fire both from below and from cliffs overlooking the fjord. The aircraft was over Langstein when it was seen to be hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire and was quickly engulfed in flames. It crashed into a range of hills near Kaldasdammen, approximately seven miles to the north of the western tip of the Ausetvatnet and twenty two miles to the north east of Trondheim, killing the entire crew.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant John Goodsir MacKid DFC (Pilot)
Sergeant William Keay Falconer Marshall (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Raymond Day (Rear Gunner)
Pilot Officer Ronald Benjamin Underwood (2nd Pilot)
Pilot Officer Thomas Neville Tree (Navigator)
Sergeant Frederick Bennett (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Eric McDermott (Front Gunner)
Theirs was one of five aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
The Germans instructed the local Lensmann at Hegra, Nr Nelson to go to the crash site, to recover the bodies and to transport them to Vaernes airfield for identification. When he arrived at the scene he found that the nose of the aircraft was buried some three feet deep. He recovered four bodies from this area as well as that of Raymond Day, which was found some ten yards from the wreckage of his turret. They were taken to Boraas Farmhouse where coffins were made, before they were transported to Vaernes airfield.
Frederick Bennett’s body was found 200 yards to the north of the site, still in his turret, and William Marshall’s body was found a month later, some 400 yards to the north east of the site. His funeral took place on the 29th of May 1942. The bodies were exhumed and reburied in 1946 by a Royal Air Force investigation team for the purposes of identification.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at John Watson’s School and on the memorial at Dean Church, Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh. He is also commemorated on the memorial at the Royal Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh.
He is buried at Stavne Cemetery, Trondheim.

Marwick, Douglas Wardlaw Corporal 966839

No. 20 Operational Training Unit, Royal Air Force
Died on the 23rd of August 1940
Douglas Wardlaw Marwick was born at Edinburgh the son of Joseph Purves Marwick, a confectioner, and Sarah Douglas (nee Wardlaw) Marwick of 18, Merchiston Crescent, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College until 1920 when he joined his father's confectionary business at Fountainbridge, Edinburgh as manager. He was a well-known amateur golfer and won several scratch tournaments. He was a member of the Lothians team and played against Angus and the Western District on a few occasions. He led the Shaftesbury quartet to victory in the Evening Dispatch Trophy Tournament at Braid Hills in 1934. He was married to Elizabeth J.
On the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an Air Gunner and saw action on many occasions. He was serving with No. 20 Operational training Unit at RAF Lossiemouth when he died from heart disease at Grays Hospital, Elgin.
His brother, Private George Wardlaw Marwick 13th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots, was killed in action on the 9th of April 1917.
He is buried at Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh Section I Grave 445

McCall, James Girvan Flight Lieutenant 127340

148 (Special Duties) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 5th of August 1944 aged 23
James Girvan McCall was born at Portobello, Edinburgh on the 17th of February 1921 the son of Peter Charles Stuart McCall and Janet McCall of 11, Willowbrae, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1926 to 1936 where he gained a general excellence prize in every year he was there. On leaving school he went to work for a printing ink manufacturer and gained the Medal for Chemistry while taking evening classes at Heriot Watt College.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on the 13th of March 1941 and was sent for training to Canada where he gained his "Wings''. In September 1941 he transferred to take part in the Arnold training scheme in the United States where he served as an instructor for a further six months. At the end of that period he was offered an extension to his service there but he requested a transfer to operational duties. He later returned to the UK where he attended an Operational Training Unit at RAF Finningley from October 1943. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 5th of February 1943 and to Flight Lieutenant on the 5th of August 1944.
He was married in 1943 to Catherine Forret (later Maitland) of Edinburgh; they had a daughter, Eileen.
On the night of the 4th/5th of August 1944, 148 Squadron was detailed to drop supplies to the Polish Home Army which was fighting for control of Warsaw on the fourth day since the uprising had begun. Due to the heavy German anti aircraft defences around the city they were to drop their supplies in areas of Southern Poland, on reserve drop zones which were already held by the Home Army. Theirs was one of 7 aircraft from the Squadron taking part in the mission and one of 14 overall.
James McCall and his crew took off from RAF Campo Casale at 7.45pm on the 4th of August 1944 in Halifax JP162 FS-S for the operation. After a long flight they reached the town of Miechow, some thirty kilometres to the north of Krakow and successfully dropped their supplies on drop zone "Kanarek 2" where the containers were collected by the Poles.
At 1.19am the following morning the aircraft was returning to base when it was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf110, flown by Feldwebel Helmut Konter of 1./NJG100. This was one of an eventual fifteen victories for Helmut Konter before he was killed in action in March 1945. The attack killed the rear gunner, John Rae, outright and set fire to the auxiliary fuel tanks. James McCall ordered the crew to bail out and the aircraft crashed between the villages of Wojnarowa and Niecew, some 17 kilometres to the north of Nowy Sacz and 80 kilometres to the south east of Krakow.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant James Girvan McCall (Pilot)
Flying Officer Phillip James Anderson RCAF (Navigator) (Evaded capture)
Sergeant Walter Charles Underwood (Flight Engineer) (Evaded capture)
Sergeant Robert Orlando Peterson RCAF (Air Bomber) (Evaded capture)
Sergeant Alan Jolly (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (Evaded capture)
Sergeant Clifford Aspinall (Dispatcher/Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant John Frederick Cairney Rae (Rear Gunner)
Walter Underwood, who had successfully escaped from the stricken aircraft, landed about half a mile away from the where the aircraft had crashed. As he walked back along a road towards the crash site he met Alan Jolly and the two men made their way towards the wreckage. When they arrived on the scene at about 2am, they found the bodies of James McCall and Clifford Aspinall in the wreckage. He and Jolly made contact with a partisan group and spent 5 to 6 weeks fighting with them before they were passed down the escape channel.
Philip Anderson landed in a field where he buried his parachute and hid in the woods for the next two days before being given shelter by a local farmer for three more days. He successfully evaded capture and returned to the UK on the 24th of March 1945.
The aircraft crash site was excavated in 2010.
He was buried at Wojnarowa but his body was later exhumed and reinterred at its present location.
He is buried at Rakowicki Cemetery, Krakow Plot 1 Row E Grave 11

McEwan John Gibson Sergeant 1565445 (AB)

34 Squadron, South African Air Force
Killed in action on the 11th of September 1944 aged 22
John Gibson McEwan was born at Edinburgh on the 9th of April 1922 the only son of Alexander McEwan and Margaret Alison (nee Gibson) McEwan of 5, Minto Street, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College until 1938 after which he joined the Union Bank of Scotland Ltd where he passed the Associates examinations. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and, while awaiting call up, he served as an enthusiastic member of the Banker’s Company of the 6th (Edinburgh) Battalion, Home Guard where he was a Platoon Sergeant. He trained in Canada and on his return to the UK he was posted to Italy where he was attached to the South African Air Force.
On the night of the 10th/11th of September 1944, John McEwan and his crew took off in Liberator B. Mk VI EW205 "Q" for an operation to drop mines in the River Danube. They were one of five aircraft from the Squadron which took off from Celone at between 11.30pm and 11.55pm and were designated to lay their mines on "Bed 27", an area of the river between Moca and Nyergesujfalu. As the aircraft was flying at very low level to drop a mine it struck a 20 kilowatt cable at 2.21am and crashed into the riverbank at Harcsas Farm, just outside the village of Izsa, to the east of Komarno with all but one of the crew being killed instantly. Another aircraft reported seeing: -"….. a ball of fire in the air fell to the ground and disintegrate."
Rear gunner, Marthinus Wiese, was badly injured and was taken to Komarno Hospital where he died of his injuries five days later.
The crew was: -
Captain Joseph William Capstick SAAF (Pilot)
Captain Duncan Alexander Stuart Nairn SAAF (2nd Pilot)
Lieutenant David Stotesbury SAAF (Navigator)
Sergeant John Gibson McEwan (Air Bomber)
Lieutenant Ralph William Edwin Kingwell SAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Ernest Ralph Dore (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Victor Lionel Robilliard SAAF (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Warrant Officer 2nd Class Marthinus Christinus Wiese SAAF (Rear Gunner) (Died of wounds 16th September 1944)
He is buried at Prague War Cemetery Collective Grave II A 4-10

McFarlane, Eric Knox Armstrong Flying Officer 146652

No. 1 Fuel Transit Camp, Royal Air Force
Died on the 6th of March 1944 aged 37
Eric Knox Armstrong McFarlane was born at Morningside, Edinburgh the son of Peter McFarlane and Catherine McFarlane of 55, Morningside Drive, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1917 to 1923 after which he entered his father’s business as a manufacturer’s representative. He was married to Winifred Renwick (nee Cossar) of Lauder, Berwickshire. He enlisted in the Technical Branch of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftman before being commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 15th of July 1943. He was promoted to Flying Officer on the 15th of January 1944.
He is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery Plot 4 Row G Grave 6

McIntosh, John Bombardier 890801

78 (Lowland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
Killed in action on the 2nd of November 1942 aged 22
John McIntosh was born at Edinburgh on the 19th of December 1919 the only son of Dugald McIntosh and Alice McIntosh of 3, Rintoul Place, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1932 to 1936. On leaving school he joined the staff of the Edinburgh Savings Bank and also became a member of the Territorial Army. He was mobilised at the outbreak of war and by the 1st of June 1940, the Regiment was based at Fargo Camp, Larkhill. On the 10th of June the Regiment received orders to proceed overseas where they were to reinforce British and French forces in the southeast of the country following the evacuation of Dunkirk. At 8am on the morning of the 12th of June an advance party of vehicles and guns left for Southampton where they loaded the guns and equipment on the cargo steamer SS Yorkwood. The main body of the Regiment left Larkhill at 10.30am the following day by train where they embarked on the TSS St Helier and set sail for France at 4.30pm. They arrived off St Malo at 6am on the 14th of June and disembarked at 1pm. They were fed in a rest camp and at 7pm they marched about two miles to the station at La Gouesnière where they embarked on a train which sat in the station all night. With the military situation having deteriorated very quickly since they had set out on their journey, they were to be sent home. The train left for St Malo on the 15th of June where they boarded the ferry SS Antwerp which lay off shore all day before sailing at 6pm. She landed at Southampton at 11.30am where the men were disembarked half an hour later.
On the 1st of June 1942, the Regiment was at its base at Oldmeldrum when they received orders to mobilise for a move overseas. At 7am on the 13th of July 1942 they travelled by train from Inverurie to the King George V Dock at Glasgow where they embarked on board the ocean liner SS Empress of Japan. Travelling down the west coast of Africa and around the Cape of Good Hope they arrived at Port Tewik in Egypt at 1.30pm on the 1st of September 1942. They moved to a camp at Khatatba on the 20th of September where they spent their time training. They were part of the build up for the British offensive which was being planned for El Alamein, which was to begin the following month. In preparation for the attack the Regiment moved to an assembly area at El Imayid on the 21st of October and received detailed orders for the attack at 8pm the following evening. At 10pm on the night of the 23rd of October 1942, the Battle of Alamein began with the Regiment firing in support of the 51st Highland Division as they advanced through enemy minefields. As progress was being made by the troops in front of them, albeit slow at first, the Regiment moved forward to support them, moving to Tel el Makd Khad on the 24th of October and to positions to the west of El Alamein on the 26th. During this time they suffered a number of casualties from counter battery fire as well as from enemy aircraft. They beat off a counterattack by enemy tanks on the 28th of October, after which things became quieter for a time. On the 1st of November the Regiment advanced two miles to Hikeif where they dug in and fired in support of an attack by the New Zealanders. At 12.05am on the morning of the 2nd of November 1942, the Regiment commenced firing a bombardment which lasted for four hours. At 8am they prepared to move to move to a new position but, in the event they remained where they were. At 11am, Captain Nagle's command vehicle received a direct hit, killing John McIntosh and wounding two signallers although Nagle himself was unhurt. The Regiment moved forward again at 5.30pm.
He is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery Plot VI Row H Grave 12

McKinna, Robert Alexander Squadron Leader 69440 DFC and Bar

97 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 23rd of September 1943 aged 33
Robert Alexander "Red" McKinna was born at Edinburgh on the 18th of June 1910 the son of Alexander McKinna and Margery (nee James) McKinna of 13, Grange Loan, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson’s College from 1918 to 1928. While at school, he was a member of the Golf team and won the Coronation Cup as champion of Braid Hills. On leaving school he entered the service of Messrs. Wallace, Begg & Co of Edinburgh and later qualified as a solicitor. During the two years before the war he was practising at their North Berwick office. He was a member of the Watsonians Golf Club and was the winner of their Gold Medal on several occasions. He represented the club in the Halford Hewitt tournament at Deal. On one occasion he tied for the Scottish Universities Golf Championship, was the winner of the Highland Amateur Golf Tournament at Pitlochry in 1935 and was runner up in the Irish Open Amateur Championship in 1937. He also played for Scotland against Wales. He was married to Helen Dorothy.
He enlisted in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he trained as an Air Gunner and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was posted to No. 15 Operational Training Unit for his final training.
On the night of the 14th of August 1940, Robert McKinna and his crew took off from RAF Harwell in Wellington Mk 1 L7770 for a night bombing and cross country training exercise. The Captain of the aircraft was instructor Flight Lieutenant J. R. Ramshaw with Sergeant J.W. Kenner flying the aircraft. As the aircraft took off and was rolling down the flare path, Ramshaw saw an unlit parked aircraft, Wellington Mk 1 L4218, at the end of the runway. He grabbed the controls, pulling back on the control column while at the same time retracting the undercarriage. In spite of his efforts, the starboard landing wheel hit the other aircraft and it stuck in the halfway position. Ramshaw transferred himself to the pilot's seat and called the control tower to request permission to land but received a reply telling him not to land as there was an air raid warning in progress. He continued on to the bombing ranges at Odstone Down where they dropped their bombs. They then climbed to 2,000 feet where the starboard engine began vibrating and trailing fuel. Ramshaw ordered the crew to prepare to bail out. With the aircraft losing height, it was flying at 1,500 feet when Ramshaw gave the order to bail out. Pilot Officer F.A. Mosley was the first to jump but, almost as soon as he had gone, the control tower radioed to say that they were now clear to attempt a landing. As he returned to Harwell he was unable to locate the airfield, which had reduced lighting as a result of the air raid. Instead, he force landed the aircraft in a field at Aldermaston near Reading. The crew were all uninjured other than Mosley who had injured himself when landing by parachute.
Pilot Officer F. A. Mosley (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant J. R. Ramshaw (Pilot Instructor)
Sergeant John Waveney Kenner (Pilot) (Killed in action 29th May 1941)
Sergeant F. R. Meate
Sergeant R. E. Smart,
Sergeant R. W. Powell
Sergeant W. T. Hawkings
Sergeant W. J. Baird
Sergeant Robert Alexander McKinna (Air Gunner)
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer on the 5th of June 1941 and was promoted to Flying Officer on probation the 24th of March 1942, being confirmed in his rank on the 5th of June 1942. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 12th of March 1943 and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant on the 24th of March 1943.
He was an early member of the Pathfinder Force and served at the Pathfinder Navigational training Unit at RAF Upwood before joining 97 Squadron as Squadron Gunnery Officer from July 1943. He was nicknamed "Red" by the members of the Squadron due to his distinctive red hair colour. He took part in over fifty operations in Bomber Command.
On the night of the 23rd/24th of September 1943, Bomber Command dispatched 312 Lancasters, 193 Halifaxes, 115 Stirlings 5 B17s and 8 Mosquitos for an operation on Mannheim. The target was the northern part of the city which had not been hit during a raid earlier in the month. The Pathfinders marked the target accurately and the bombing was concentrated on the intended area, although the later stages of the attack saw the bombing creep back across the suburbs and into open country. Damage was severe with 927 houses, 20 industrial buildings, 6 public buildings and a church all being destroyed. Some 25,000 people were bombed out of their homes and casualties on the ground were 102 dead and 418 injured. During the later stages of the attack the IG Farben factory was severely damaged.
Robert McKinna and his crew took off from RAF Bourn at 7.13pm on the 23rd of September 1943 in Lancaster Mk III JA708 OF-P for the operation. Robert McKinna and Kenneth Foster, the Squadron Navigational Officer, joined the crew for the raid replacing two of the regular crew members who were time expired.
The aircraft was carrying one 4,000lb bomb, five 1,000lb bombs and four 250lb markers. As the aircraft made its bombing run at 16,000 feet over the target it was "coned" by searchlights but continued its bombing run and dropped its bombs and target markers at 10.45pm. As soon as the bombs had gone the pilot put the aircraft into a "violent" spiral but could not lose the searchlights. Suddenly the searchlights were switched off simultaneously and the pilot was climbing to regain altitude when the aircraft was attacked by a Messerschmitt Bf110 flown by Unteroffizier Josef Brunner of II./NJG1. Robert McKinna and Henry Page were killed in their turrets and the aircraft caught fire. The pilot ordered the crew to abandon the aircraft and the rest of the crew bailed out. Wireless Operator Wally Layne, who bailed out of the front hatch, was the last man out of the aircraft and he later recalled seeing Robert McKinna’s body slumped in his shattered turret and that the rear of the aircraft was engulfed in flames. The aircraft crashed at about 10.57pm in a mountainous gorge at Ramberg in the Forest of Katzenfesen and Eusserthal, near the villages of Hofstätten and Rinnthal. The body of the Navigator, Kenneth Foster, was found some four miles from the crash site where it was later determined that his parachute had caught in a tree and that he had been killed when he released it and struck his head in the fall. The remaining four crew members were taken prisoner, although Wally Layne was on the run for ten days before he was captured near Nancy in France. Theirs was one of an eventual seven victories for Josef Brunner who is thought to have survived the war.
The crew was: -
Flight Lieutenant Robert A. Fletcher (Pilot) (POW No. 2612 Stalag Luft III)
Flight Sergeant Joseph E. Nelson (Flight Engineer) (POW No. 501 Stalag 357)
Squadron Leader Kenneth Jack Foster DFC and Bar (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Jack F. Beesley (Air Bomber) (POW No. 509 Stalag 357)
Pilot Officer Walter Henry "Wally" Layne (Wireless Operator) (POW No. 605 Stalag Luft VI)
Flight Sergeant Henry Reuben Page (Rear Gunner)
Squadron Leader Robert Alexander McKinna DFC and Bar (Mid Upper Gunner)
Theirs was one of thirty two aircraft which failed to return from the mission.
Robert McKinna's body was recovered from the wreckage by locals and was buried at Eusserthal. It was later exhumed and moved to its present location.
He was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross on the 23rd of September 1943, which was announced by the Air Ministry on the 10th of April 1945.
He is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery Joint Grave 18 B 23-24

McLachlan Ian Sergeant 1055930

150 Squadron, Royal Air Force
Killed in action on the 9th of November 1942 aged 21
Ian McLachlan was born at Hinckley, Leicestershire on the 23rd of August 1921 the son of Dr John Morham McLachlan MD and Anne Logie (nee Robertson) McLachlan of 36, Plewlands Gardens, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1931 to 1939 where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps and gained the bronze medal for life saving. He was a keen scout and was a member of the Schoolboy's Club. He went on to Edinburgh University for one term before enlisting in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in July 1940. He was promoted to Sergeant in July 1942 and was posted to Bomber Command.
On the night of the 9th/10th of November 1942, Bomber Command dispatched 74 Wellingtons, 72 Lancasters 18 Halifaxes and 19 Stirlings for an operation on Hamburg. Weather conditions were poor with thick cloud, icing and high winds over the target area. Although 156 of the crews reported that they had dropped their bombs, of which 133 believed they had dropped them on the target, damage was light with most of the bombs dropping in the River Elbe or in open country. 26 fires were started in the city of which 3 were large and casualties on the ground from the raid were 3 people killed and 16 injured. Returning crews reported that accurate heavy and light flak were encountered over the city.
Ian McLachlan and his crew took off from RAF Kirmington at 5.30pm on the 9th of November 1942 in Wellington Mk III X3310 JN-A for the operation. On its return from the target the aircraft was attacked and shot down by an enemy night fighter. It crashed and exploded near Bornwird Raard, some five kilometres to the west of Dukkum, Friesland at 11pm, killing the entire crew. The victory was claimed by Ludwig Becker Oberleutnant Ludwig Becker of 12./NJG1, one of an eventual forty four victories before he was killed in action on the 26th of February 1943.
The crew was: -
Sergeant Ian McLachlan (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner)
Sergeant Douglas Vary Prosser RCAF (Pilot)
Pilot Officer Donald James MacPherson RCAF (Observer)
Sergeant Geoffrey George Golding (2nd Pilot)
Sergeant William Hurrell (Air Bomber)
Sergeant Harry Victor Thompson RCAF (Air Gunner)
Theirs was one of fifteen aircraft which failed to return from the operation.
He is buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery Collective Grave 24 H 1-6

McLachlan Lachlan Surgeon Lieutenant RNVR

HMS Aldenham, Royal Navy
Killed in action on the 14th of December 1944 aged 25
Lachlan McLachlan was born on the 6th of August 1919 the only son of Master Alexander McLachlan MBE, Merchant Navy, and Euphemia (nee Macauly) McLachlan of "Dunchonel", Glenmore, Oban, later of 4, Drylaw Crescent, Blackhall, Edinburgh. He was educated at George Watson's College from 1932 to 1937. He went on to Edinburgh University where he graduated MB ChB. He joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1943 and was commissioned as a Surgeon Lieutenant on the 8th of October 1943. He saw service at the shore establishment HMS Drake at Devonport and at the naval accommodation camp HMS Sphinx at Alexandria before joining the crew of the escort destroyer HMS Aldenham (L22).
On the morning of the 14th of December 1944, HMS Aldenham, under the command of Commander James Gerald Farrant RN, left her base at Ist Island in the Adriatic and anchored off the western coast of Pag Island with the destroyer HMS Atherstone. Their mission was to bombard an enemy artillery battery near Karlobag as well as other military targets on Pag. The two ships opened fire at 9am, each firing some 500 4-inch shells on barracks and enemy bunkers on the island before ceasing fire at 11.20am. By 2pm HMS Aldenham was off the town of Pag itself and shelled it for an hour, firing a further 200 shells at the town. At 3pm she set off for base with HMS Atherstone off her stern. A short time later she was making a turn between the islands of Planik and Olib when she struck a mine which exploded under her engine room and broke her in two. The bow section sank immediately with the rear section sinking a little later at 3.29pm. Fifty eight officers and men were rescued from the water by ML 238 and HDML 1162 with five officers and one hundred and twenty one ratings being lost along with two Yugoslav partisans who were on board. All of the survivors were on the upper deck of the ship.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Oban.
He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial Panel 93 Column 1

McLaine, Allan Lynton Lieutenant 345537

General List attached to the Royal Army Pay Corps
Died on the 22nd of December 1946 aged 42
Allan Lynton McLaine was born at Kollegal, Madras, India on the 27th of August 1904 the elder son of the Reverend Frank McLaine, a missionary, and Helen Amos (nee Middleton) McLaine of Madras, India. He was christened at Kollegal on the 1st of April 1915. He was educated in India, at James Gillespie's School, Edinburgh and at George Watson's College from 1918 to 1921. On leaving school he trained as a Chartered Accountant and on qualifying, he joined the firm of Messrs. Mann, Judd, Gordon & Co, Chartered Accountants of Glasgow. On the 22nd of February 1929, he boarded the SS Mantua at London bound for Sarawak, where he took up a government appointment which he held until 1940.
He was married at Kuching, Sarawak on the 7th of December 1935 to Sidney Mary Joyce (nee Ennion) of Newmarket, Suffolk. In late 1940, he left Sarawak for Hobart, Tasmania where he worked in organising industry and in the Air Raid Precautions service.
He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Cadet Force Section on the General List on the 25th of September 1944 and was posted to Ambala in the Punjab. He later became ill there, was invalided out of the service and returned home to Hobart in 1945 where he lived at Kingston Beach. He died there the following year.
His death is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as he had left the service by the time of his death.
He is buried at Kingston St Clement's Anglican Cemetery, Tasmania.

McLeish, John Private 14833985

General Service Corps
Died on the 8th of December 1944 aged 18
John McLeish was born at Inverness the son of Richard James McLeish, a surveyor for HM Customs and Excise, writer and poet, of 76, Falcon Avenue, Edinburgh, later of 225, Wigston Road, Oadby, Leicester. He was educated at Jedburgh Grammar School and at George Watson's College from 1938 to 1943. He went on to Edinburgh University to study Arts but joined the army in 1944 and died at a military hospital while undergoing basic training.
He is buried at Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh Section B Grave 716