Five: Major H. R. S. Macartney, M.C., 1st Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps, accidently killed in Greece, 14 January 1945

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, unnamed as issued, extremely fine (5) £220-260

M.C. London Gazette 17 June 1943. ‘in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East’. ‘Lieutenant (219916), 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, Royal Armoured Corps (Radley, Berks.)’.

Recommendation states: ‘On 27 Mar 43 Lt. Macartney was on patrol in the area of Pt 209 (Y,9000). This point was strongly held by German infantry. Lt Macartney led his patrol into the hills behind the German posn. and although under heavy shell fire he engaged the enemy with MG fire throughout the day. In the evening he assisted a Bn. of NZ infantry in the attack on this post, killing at least 12 of the enemy and inflicting severe casualties. He captured 2 x 75mm. guns which had been firing at him earlier in the day. Again on the 29 Mar 43, Lt Macartney was doing advance guard to the Sqn. which was advancing on GABES. He led his patrol with great detirmination, capturing 14 prisoners and attacked and destroyed an enemy self-propelled 75mm. gun. He was the first man to enter GABES and he quickly pursued the enemy through this town and assisted some NZ 6-pdrs, who were following him, to destroy two Italian armd. cars. By dark he had led his patrol up to METOUIA. This officer has always shown the greatest courage and detirmination and all his patrolling is of the highest order’.

Major Hugh Revell Sutherland Macartney, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, R.A.C., was accidently killed on 14 January 1945. He was the son of James Hugh and Cecely Revell Macartney and the husband of Eleanor Caroline Macartney (nee Penton), of Blackheath, London. He was buried in the Phaleron War Cemetery.

The King’s Dragoon Guards War Diary entry for 14 January 1945 records the tragic event, ‘Place: Greece. Weather: fine. Locns. unchanged (Kifissia). .... They are searching houses and putting up the perimeter wire round Athens; there is not much for us to do. We may have to make a trip to Patras in four days time. Otherwise, as the truce with ELAS comes into force at midnight tonight, ops may nearly be over. There is still much furtive ELAS activity in the area: a KRRC patrol was attacked 2 kms North of us today, and we have been warned by civs that we are to be attacked tonight. A disastrous accident occured tonight. Major Macartney was driving back from Athens in his Jeep (it was dark & raining) and failed to stop when challenged by a sentry at an RA post on the rd. The sentry shot at him, and he died of wounds before reaching hospital. Whose fault it was a Court of Inquiry may discover. But it is a very great loss to the Regt., as he had shown himself a first class Sqn. Ldr. during the short time he had commanded “B” Squadron’.

Entry for 15 January, ‘.... This afternoon Major Macartney was buried at the Faliron Cemetery’.

Sold with original condolence slip named to ‘Major H. R. S. Macartney (M.C.)’, and with copied research.