| Surname: | Mackintosh |
| Initials: | J M |
| Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Army Number: | 284015 |
| Notes: | CMP. From Wallington, Surrey. 51 Highland Div Pro Coy. Formerly Cameron Highlanders. 13/3/43 Discharged to Commission. London Gazette 36244, page 4965, 12/11/43. East Surrey Regiment. The undermentioned Cadets to be 2/Lt's 14/3/43. 2926451 James Moir MacKintosh (284015).East Surrey Regiment. London Gazette 40231, 4157, 16/7/1954. Regular Army. Corps of Royal Military Police. Short Service Commn. Capt J M Mackintosh, MC (284015) from Camerons (Emp List 4) to be Capt, 17/7/1954 retaining present seniority. London Gazette 40890, 5560, 2/10/1956. Regular Army. Corps of Royal Military Police. Short Serv. Commn. Maj. J M Mackintosh, MC. (284015) relinquishes his commn. on completion of service. 1/10/1956, and is granted the hon. rank of Maj. London Gazette 41743, 4079, 23/6/1959. Corps of Royal Military Police. Territorial Army. Hon Maj. James Muir Mackintosh, MC. (284015) (late RMP) to be Maj, 6/3/1959, with seniority 17/8/1958. London Gazette 42678, 4121, 22/5/1962, Corps of Royal Military Police. Territorial Army. Maj J M Mackintosh, MC. (284015), resigns his commn, 1/3/1962, retaining the rank of Maj. 51 (H) Div Pro Coy War Diary WO 169/8806. 18/7/43 In The Field. Lt. Mackintosh and Cpl. Patterson proceeded to mark route for 158 Bde. to area a r 6151 (sheet 56 Catania) ambushed by enemy at point 6244, enemy armed with two automatic and several rifles under command of an officer. At ambush point they were thirty yards from enemy travelling on a Bantam, and accompanied by two Italian POW they had picked up on route. The prisoners decided to join their comrades. The enemy opened fire and were engaged from behind the Jeep. Cpl Patterson seriously wounded and Lt. Mackintosh tried to get on to the high ground and came under fire from several rifles and was forced to surrender. The enemy ceased to fire and on walking towards them in surrender Lt. Mackintosh managed to escape between some rocks. He crawled behind some rocks where he managed to hide until a Seaforth carrier arrived. He warned the occupants of the presence of the enemy made of with the Bantam and all the kit. Cpl Patterson was picked up a little later by the section who were following behind the carrier. Cpl Patterson showed a cool determined defiance beyond all praise throughout the encounter even though in a state of collapse through loss of blood. He was instrumental in saving his comrades from a similar fate. It was from this point forward that the Battle of FRANCA PONTES was fought. Extract from the Dundee Courier, 18/10/43. MC FOR ARBROATH EX-CONSTABLE. Lt James M Mackintosh a former member of the Arbroath Burgh Police Force has been awarded the Military Cross. At the quarterly meeting of the Arbroath branch of the Cameron Highlanders Old Comrades Association of which he is a formerly secretary, it was agreed to send him a joint congratulatory cable from the association and the police. Chief Constable James Macdonald presided. Lieut. Mackintosh served in the 1 Battalion Cameron Highlanders in India and was discharged as a reservist in 1938, when he joined the Arbroath Burgh Police. In 1939 he rejoined his regiment and was later transferred to the Corps of Military Police with which he served as Sergeant Major in Palestine and Syria. He obtained commissioned rank in March last and was transferred to the 51st Division. Extract from the Arbroath Herald 22/10/1943. Former Arbroath Constable Wins MC. The Military Cross has been awarded to Lt James M Mackintosh, Corps of Military Police and former member of Arbroath Burgh Police Force. At the quarterly meeting of Arbroath and District Branch of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Regimental Association, held in the British Legion Club Rooms on Sunday and of which he is a former secretary it was agreed to send him a joint letter of congratulation from the Association and the police. The meeting was presided over by the Chief Constable J McDonald. Lt Mackintosh served with the 1 Battalion Cameron Highlanders in India and was discharged as a reservist in 1936, when he joined Arbroath Police Force. In 1939 he returned to his regiment and was on active service with the 51st (Highland) Division in France and took part in the evacuation. H was later transferred to the Corps of Military Police with which he served in Palestine and Syria. He obtained commissioned rank in March last and was transferred to 51st Division. |
Decoration Record: | |
| Decoration: | Military Cross (London Gazette: 36251 Page: 5062 Nov. 18, 1943) |
| Citation: | Sicily. Citation for Military Cross: This Officer is in charge of the Provost Section attached to 152nd Infantry Brigade for operations. On 13th July 1943 he was marking the route to be followed by the Brigade from CASSIBILE to FRANCOFONTE. Shortly after passing through BUCCHRI he and his Corporal encountered two Italians who they made prisoners but almost immediately found themselves fired upon by two parties each of 6 or 7 men with several machine guns. Several Italians rushed out to capture them but Lieut. Mackintosh interposed one of his prisoners between himself and the enemy. The prisoner however attempted to expose Lieut. Macintosh to fire and had to be shot. Meantime the Provost Corporal was wounded. Lieut. Mackintosh scrambled away and covered the Corporal's withdrawl to his truck and then followed. When the Advance Guard reached the scene of their encounter shorly afterwards, it was found that the enemy had bolted. Lieut. Mackintosh showed great personal courage and it was due to his presence of mind and resoucefulness that neither he nor his Corporal was captured. There is also no doubt that his bravery at this moment contributed to the hasty withdrawl of the enemy before the arrival of our Advance Guard.Brigadier Comd 152 Inf Bde. Lieut Gen GOC 30 Corps. H R Alexander General GOC in C 15 Army Group. B L Montgomery Gen GOC Eighth Army. National Archive WO 373/3. |