robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.
(robot: Create/upgrade articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.) |
(robot: Create/update articles. If there is a mistake please report on my talk page.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|British Army general (1897–1986)}} | {{Short description|British Army general (1897–1986)}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=October | {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
|name=Sir Gordon MacMillan | |name=Sir Gordon MacMillan | ||
| Line 30: | Line 30: | ||
After the war, MacMillan served as the army's Director of Weapons and Development. In February 1947 he was appointed GOC [[Palestine Command|British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan]]. Soon after his arrival, the British Government decided to bring to an end its [[Mandate for Palestine|Mandate in Palestine]]. This decision triggered an escalation of violence in the territory, leading to the withdrawal of all British forces by 30 June 1948. He then served as GOC [[Scottish Command]] (1949–52). His final army posting was as Governor and Commander-in-Chief [[Gibraltar]] (1952–55). | After the war, MacMillan served as the army's Director of Weapons and Development. In February 1947 he was appointed GOC [[Palestine Command|British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan]]. Soon after his arrival, the British Government decided to bring to an end its [[Mandate for Palestine|Mandate in Palestine]]. This decision triggered an escalation of violence in the territory, leading to the withdrawal of all British forces by 30 June 1948. He then served as GOC [[Scottish Command]] (1949–52). His final army posting was as Governor and Commander-in-Chief [[Gibraltar]] (1952–55). | ||
Gordon MacMillan was hereditary Chief of the [[Clan MacMillan]].<ref>{{London Gazette|city=e|issue=16868|page=333|date=29 June 1951}}</ref> After retirement, he remained Colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders until 1958. Following his retirement, he immersed himself in Scottish life and society, being appointed chairman of several institutions. Much of his time was devoted to the upkeep of the house, gardens and woodlands at [[Finlaystone House|Finlaystone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Finlaystone.co.uk|title=Welcome to Finlaystone Country Estate|publisher=Finlaystone Country Estate|access-date=23 August | Gordon MacMillan was hereditary Chief of the [[Clan MacMillan]].<ref>{{London Gazette|city=e|issue=16868|page=333|date=29 June 1951}}</ref> After retirement, he remained Colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders until 1958. Following his retirement, he immersed himself in Scottish life and society, being appointed chairman of several institutions. Much of his time was devoted to the upkeep of the house, gardens and woodlands at [[Finlaystone House|Finlaystone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Finlaystone.co.uk|title=Welcome to Finlaystone Country Estate|publisher=Finlaystone Country Estate|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> the family house in the West of Scotland. | ||
==Early life and First World War== | ==Early life and First World War== | ||
Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan was born near [[Bangalore]], Kingdom of Mysore, [[British Raj|India]], on 7 January 1897. His father, Dugald MacMillan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p17106.htm#i171060|title=General Sir Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap|publisher=The Peerage.com|access-date=23 August | Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan was born near [[Bangalore]], Kingdom of Mysore, [[British Raj|India]], on 7 January 1897. His father, Dugald MacMillan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p17106.htm#i171060|title=General Sir Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap|publisher=The Peerage.com|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> was a coffee plantation owner. However, when he was three years old, his parents, both of Scottish origin, decided to return to Britain to bring up their only son.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=13}} At the age of ten, he joined [[St Edmund's School, Canterbury]], from where he won a Prize Cadetship to attend a shortened course at the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], in April 1915, several months after the outbreak of the [[World War I|Great War]].<ref>St. Edmund's School, Canterbury, Archives</ref>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=203}} | ||
MacMillan was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] on 11 August 1915.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29258|page=7905|date=10 August 1915}}</ref>{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=17}}<ref name="Officers of the British Army">{{cite web|url=https://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_M01.html#MacMillan_GHA|title=British Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> | MacMillan was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders]] on 11 August 1915.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29258|page=7905|date=10 August 1915}}</ref>{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=17}}<ref name="Officers of the British Army">{{cite web|url=https://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_M01.html#MacMillan_GHA|title=British Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|access-date=2022-07-19}}</ref> | ||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
While still only 19 years old and a second lieutenant, he was appointed [[Acting rank|acting]] [[adjutant]] of the battalion in November 1916.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=22}} He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] in April 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30123|page=5711|date=8 June 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and formally confirmed as adjutant in June.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30247|page=8671|date=21 August 1917|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="Officers of the British Army" /> He remained in this post for the rest of the war, serving seven different [[commanding officer]]s (CO).{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|pp=23−24}} The casualties were immense and, at one time, while a second lieutenant, he found himself by default commanding the battalion.<ref>MacMillan's own account of the First World War can be found in: Leeds University Library, Liddle Collection, Reference GS 1032, Gordon MacMillan.</ref> MacMillan wrote "I would say that I was fortunate to belong to the best battalion in the Army, with an unbreakable spirit. You can see this from the record of their operations – and then look at the casualty list: 63 officers and 1175 men killed, and ready for anything at the end of it all".{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=26}} | While still only 19 years old and a second lieutenant, he was appointed [[Acting rank|acting]] [[adjutant]] of the battalion in November 1916.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=22}} He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] in April 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30123|page=5711|date=8 June 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and formally confirmed as adjutant in June.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30247|page=8671|date=21 August 1917|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="Officers of the British Army" /> He remained in this post for the rest of the war, serving seven different [[commanding officer]]s (CO).{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|pp=23−24}} The casualties were immense and, at one time, while a second lieutenant, he found himself by default commanding the battalion.<ref>MacMillan's own account of the First World War can be found in: Leeds University Library, Liddle Collection, Reference GS 1032, Gordon MacMillan.</ref> MacMillan wrote "I would say that I was fortunate to belong to the best battalion in the Army, with an unbreakable spirit. You can see this from the record of their operations – and then look at the casualty list: 63 officers and 1175 men killed, and ready for anything at the end of it all".{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=26}} | ||
MacMillan was one of only 168 soldiers to receive the [[Military Cross]] (MC) and two [[Medal bar|Bars]] in the First World War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/military_cross/mc.htm|title=The Military Cross|publisher=North East Medals|access-date=23 August | MacMillan was one of only 168 soldiers to receive the [[Military Cross]] (MC) and two [[Medal bar|Bars]] in the First World War.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northeastmedals.co.uk/britishguide/military_cross/mc.htm|title=The Military Cross|publisher=North East Medals|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> His MCs were awarded for exceptional gallantry in the battles of High Wood (July 1916), Arras (April 1917) and Le Cateau (October 1918)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13877|page=1957|date=22 December 1922|city=e}}</ref><ref>Full citations for these and other medals are quoted in MacMillan, George etc'' ''(See Reference 1)</ref><ref name="Officers of the British Army" />{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=203}} | ||
==Between the wars== | ==Between the wars== | ||
| Line 88: | Line 88: | ||
MacMillan was promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant-general on 10 February 1947,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37891|page=959|date=25 February 1947|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="Officers of the British Army" /> and, three days later, took up his duties as GOC [[Palestine Command|British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan]],<ref>Letter to MacMillan from War Office, dated 24 October 1946 (Imperial War Museum, Private papers of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, Cat. No. 12052)</ref> replacing Lieutenant-General [[Evelyn Barker|Sir Evelyn Barker]], who he had succeeded as GOC of the 49th Division in November 1944, and who was then being sent home amid allegations of having had an affair and his [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] order following the [[King David Hotel Bombing]] in July 1946.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=119}} While there, MacMillan was promoted to lieutenant-general on 17 November 1947.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38130|page=5573|date=21 November 1947|supp=y}}</ref> One unnamed journalist described this as "perhaps the most unpleasant job that has ever fallen to the lot of a British general" but went on to observe that the newly promoted Lieutenant-General MacMillan is "quiet, efficient, yet capable of divine wrath when the need arises: he is a great leader and is both loved and respected by his subordinates."<ref>From scrapbook amongst MacMillan private papers retained at Finlaystone</ref> | MacMillan was promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant-general on 10 February 1947,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37891|page=959|date=25 February 1947|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="Officers of the British Army" /> and, three days later, took up his duties as GOC [[Palestine Command|British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan]],<ref>Letter to MacMillan from War Office, dated 24 October 1946 (Imperial War Museum, Private papers of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, Cat. No. 12052)</ref> replacing Lieutenant-General [[Evelyn Barker|Sir Evelyn Barker]], who he had succeeded as GOC of the 49th Division in November 1944, and who was then being sent home amid allegations of having had an affair and his [[antisemitism|antisemitic]] order following the [[King David Hotel Bombing]] in July 1946.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=119}} While there, MacMillan was promoted to lieutenant-general on 17 November 1947.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38130|page=5573|date=21 November 1947|supp=y}}</ref> One unnamed journalist described this as "perhaps the most unpleasant job that has ever fallen to the lot of a British general" but went on to observe that the newly promoted Lieutenant-General MacMillan is "quiet, efficient, yet capable of divine wrath when the need arises: he is a great leader and is both loved and respected by his subordinates."<ref>From scrapbook amongst MacMillan private papers retained at Finlaystone</ref> | ||
Just five days after his arrival, the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] was informed that the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] had decided to place the question of the future of Palestine before the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1947/feb/18/palestine-conference-government-policy|title=Palestine Conference (Government Policy)|publisher=Hansard (House of Commons Debate) Vol 433, cc985-94|date=18 February 1947|access-date=23 August | Just five days after his arrival, the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] was informed that the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]] had decided to place the question of the future of Palestine before the [[United Nations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1947/feb/18/palestine-conference-government-policy|title=Palestine Conference (Government Policy)|publisher=Hansard (House of Commons Debate) Vol 433, cc985-94|date=18 February 1947|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> This meant that MacMillan would be the last GOC. It set the stage for the end of the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate in Palestine]] in May 1948 and for an increasingly violent struggle between the [[Palestinian Jews|Jews]] and the [[Arabs]].<ref>Collins and Lapierre, Chapter 23</ref> | ||
The head of the civilian government in Palestine was the [[High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan|High Commissioner]], [[Alan Cunningham|Sir Alan Cunningham]],<ref>Sir Alan Cunningham's private papers, relating to his time in Palestine, are deposited at St. Antony's College, Oxford, Middle East Centre Archives. They include many references to MacMillan.</ref> while the GOC was responsible for maintaining law and order with a force of over 100,000 troops, an army of more or less the same size as the whole British Army at the beginning of the 21st century.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=123}} His period in Palestine was marked by increasingly divergent views between the local administration and the British Cabinet in London on the role of the army.<ref>See Motti, Golani,''The End of the British Mandate in Palestine, 1948: The Diary of Sir Henry Gurney, ''Palgrave 2009</ref> MacMillan recognised the increasing futility of trying to keep the peace between two parties committed to war rather than to cohabitation, and the need to prioritise arrangements for the safe, orderly and timely evacuation of all troops and other British residents as well as 270,000 tons of military equipment and stores.<ref>Events during his tenure in Palestine were summarised in his report, written in Fayid (Egypt) and dated 3 July 1948, under the title:'' Palestine:Narrative of Events from February 1947 until the Withdrawal of All British Troops. ''(Imperial War Museum. Private Papers of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, catalogue no. 12052). '' ''</ref> He was the target of three assassination attempts by Palestinian Jews,{{sfn|Ben-Yehuda|1992|p=279−280}} and he was criticised fiercely by Arabs and Jews respectively for his failure to intervene in time to stop the [[Deir Yassin]] massacre and the attack on the [[Hadassah convoy massacre|Hadassah convoy]].{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=131}} | The head of the civilian government in Palestine was the [[High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan|High Commissioner]], [[Alan Cunningham|Sir Alan Cunningham]],<ref>Sir Alan Cunningham's private papers, relating to his time in Palestine, are deposited at St. Antony's College, Oxford, Middle East Centre Archives. They include many references to MacMillan.</ref> while the GOC was responsible for maintaining law and order with a force of over 100,000 troops, an army of more or less the same size as the whole British Army at the beginning of the 21st century.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=123}} His period in Palestine was marked by increasingly divergent views between the local administration and the British Cabinet in London on the role of the army.<ref>See Motti, Golani,''The End of the British Mandate in Palestine, 1948: The Diary of Sir Henry Gurney, ''Palgrave 2009</ref> MacMillan recognised the increasing futility of trying to keep the peace between two parties committed to war rather than to cohabitation, and the need to prioritise arrangements for the safe, orderly and timely evacuation of all troops and other British residents as well as 270,000 tons of military equipment and stores.<ref>Events during his tenure in Palestine were summarised in his report, written in Fayid (Egypt) and dated 3 July 1948, under the title:'' Palestine:Narrative of Events from February 1947 until the Withdrawal of All British Troops. ''(Imperial War Museum. Private Papers of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, catalogue no. 12052). '' ''</ref> He was the target of three assassination attempts by Palestinian Jews,{{sfn|Ben-Yehuda|1992|p=279−280}} and he was criticised fiercely by Arabs and Jews respectively for his failure to intervene in time to stop the [[Deir Yassin]] massacre and the attack on the [[Hadassah convoy massacre|Hadassah convoy]].{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=131}} | ||
| Line 103: | Line 103: | ||
[[File:The grave of Gordon Holmes MacMillan, Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|left|The grave of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, [[Newington Cemetery]], Edinburgh.]] | [[File:The grave of Gordon Holmes MacMillan, Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh.JPG|thumb|left|The grave of General Sir Gordon MacMillan, [[Newington Cemetery]], Edinburgh.]] | ||
From 1955 MacMillan lived at [[Finlaystone House|Finlaystone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finlaystonehouse.com/|title=Finlaystone House and Gardens|access-date=23 August | From 1955 MacMillan lived at [[Finlaystone House|Finlaystone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finlaystonehouse.com/|title=Finlaystone House and Gardens|access-date=23 August 2014}}</ref> his wife's family home on the southern bank of the [[River Clyde]], near the village of [[Langbank]] in Scotland. His family, consisting of his wife Marian, daughter Judy and four sons, George, [[John MacMillan (British Army officer)|John]], David and Andrew, had been based here during the Second World War and the Palestine assignment. Apart from doing much, including a lot of manual work, to maintain and improve the house, its garden and the surrounding estate, he immersed himself in Scottish affairs. He continued as Colonel of the A&SH until 1958,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41508|page=5957|date=26 September 1958|supp=y}}</ref> and subsequently led a successful campaign to save the regiment from disbandment in 1968. He also served for many years as one of the Commissioners of the [[Queen Victoria School]], Dunblane, of which he had been ex-officio Chairman when GOC Scotland.{{sfn|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|MacMillan|2013|p=144}} | ||
Relieved of his military duties, MacMillan was able to devote more time to [[Clan MacMillan]] matters, arranging gatherings at Finlaystone and frequently visiting Clan members in North America. He was appointed Her Majesty's [[Vice-Lieutenant]] for the [[County of Renfrew]] in 1955.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40656|page=7071|date=16 December 1955}}</ref> | Relieved of his military duties, MacMillan was able to devote more time to [[Clan MacMillan]] matters, arranging gatherings at Finlaystone and frequently visiting Clan members in North America. He was appointed Her Majesty's [[Vice-Lieutenant]] for the [[County of Renfrew]] in 1955.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40656|page=7071|date=16 December 1955}}</ref> | ||