Family group:

A Second World War M.B.E., Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major Archibald Douglas, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), late Seaforth Highlanders and Cameron Highlanders

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge, silver; Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse inscribed, ‘Captain A. Douglas, 5th Q.O. Cameron Highlanders, 28th Sept. 1918’; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Kurdistan (Lieut.); 1939-35 Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed

Pair: Private Arthur Douglas, Seaforth Highlanders, killed in action, Mesopotamia, 7 January 1916

British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (10270 Pte., Sea. Highrs.) these eight medals mounted in one group as worn (see note below), good fine and better (8) £900-1200

Archibald Douglas

M.B.E. London Gazette 14 June 1945. ‘Major Archibald Douglas, M.C. (20329), The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).’

M.C. London Gazette 15 February 1919; citation 30 July 1919. ‘2nd Lt. Archibald Douglas, 3rd Bn., attd. 5th Bn. Cam. Highrs.’

‘For most conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership throughout the operations from September 28th to October 3rd, 1918, when in command of a company. On September 28th, when his company was held up by heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from a pillbox on Anzac Ridge, he worked one platoon round the left flank and then led the assault which resulted in the capture of the position and the destruction of the garrison. His leadership and example to the men were splendid.’

M.I.D. London Gazette (Haig) 28 December 1918. ‘2nd Lt., 3rd Bn. (S.R.), attd. 5th Bn. Cameron Highlanders’.

Archibald Douglas was born in Blantyre, Lanarkshire on 4 October 1897. Originally in the ranks of the 14th Battalion London Regiment, in mobilised T.F., January 1916-May 1917, he was discharged to a commission in the Cameron Highlanders on 29 May 1917. In mobilised Special Reserve, May 1917-January 1920. Served in France/Flanders, 31 August-22 December 1916 (wounded) and 6 September 1917-11 November 1918. As a 2nd Lieutenant in the Cameron Highlanders he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the M.C. for his gallantry and leadership in 1918. He relinquished his commission on 1 April 1920. Commissioned into the Cameronians as a Lieutenant on 6 April 1920, he served in Kurdistan with the regiment. Promoted to Captain in December 1930 and Major in August 1938. Adjutant Auxiliary Force India, April 1927-April 1931. As a Major in the 2nd Battalion Cameronians he served in Belgium in 1940 and later was evacuated from Dunkirk. On home soil, in the re-organised battalion, he was appointed Company Commander of “C” Company. Major Douglas retired due to disability on 18 April 1948. With copied research.

Arthur Douglas

Arthur Douglas, an elder brother of Archibald, was born in Blantyre c.1892 and enlisted at Hamilton, originally as a Private in the 5th Reserve Cavalry. As a Private in the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 14 July 1915. He was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 7 January 1916. His name is commemorated on the Basra Memorial. With copied m.i.c. and casualty details. Entitled to the 1914-15 Star. Arthur Douglas was not mentioned in despatches - the emblem was added in error (see below).

Note: it would seem that at some stage in their history, the Great War medals of Arthur Douglas were either mounted in error or mounted as a tribute within his brother Archibald’s group. The whereabouts of Archibald Douglas’s Great War pair of medals and Arthur Douglas’s 1914-15 Star is unknown.