Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lieutenant Colonel M. D. McLagan, Royal Engineers - a bomb disposal specialist, who commanded HQ Bomb Disposal Units (UK) R.E., 1948-50

India General Service 1936-39, 2 clasps, North West Frontier 1936-37, North West Frontier 1937-39 (Lieut. M. D. McLagan. R.E.) 2nd clasp loose on riband; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, mounted as originally worn, generally very fine (4) £200-£300

M. D. McLagan, B.A. was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, and advanced to Lieutenant in January 1930. He advanced Captain in January 1938, and to Major in January 1944. McLagan specialised in Bomb Disposal, and commanded HQ Bomb Disposal Units (UK) RE at Ashley Garden, Victoria, from April 1948.

In the August of 1949 three BD Companies were disbanded, leaving just 2 BD Coy, 7 BD Coy and 16 BD Coy, plus a plant Squadron. By now the ‘Companies’ had been renamed ‘Squadrons’. They were dispersed as follows: HQ 2 BD Sqn RE at Richmond Park, London, HQ 7 BD Sqn RE at Long Ashton, Bristol, HQ 16 BD Sqn RE at Hursley, Winchester, Plant Sqn plus a BD Tp at Broadbridge Heath Camp. The three Squadrons maintained detachments at: Well Camp, Well, Alford, Lincolnshire, Fraserburgh Airfield, Aberdeen, Castleton Camp, Newport, Monmouth, North Park Camp, Wareham, Dorset and Sandown Barracks, Sandown, Isle of Wight.

In December 1949 a ceiling for BD Personnel (UK) was set at 60 all ranks and on 1st January 1950 the three BD Squadrons were also disbanded. The BD organisation was restructured into an HQ, still in London, with five operational troops, plus a plant troop. These were based at: 1 BD Troop RE at Richmond Park Camp, London, 2 BD Troop RE at Hursley, Winchester, 3 BD Troop RE at Arminghill Camp, Norwich, 4 BD Troop RE at Huyton, Liverpool and 5 BD Troop RE at Portbury, Bristol.

By the March 1 & 3 BD Troops had moved to Whetstone, London and Gainsborough, Yorks, respectively. Detachments were now at Freshwater (Isle of Wight), Arminghill, Norwich, Axminster and Honiton in Devon and RAF Camp, Millom, Cumberland.

In August 1950, HQ Bomb Disposal Units (UK) RE, still commanded by McLagan, moved from London to Horsham, (Broadbridge Heath Camp). McLagan, who had advanced to Lieutenant Colonel, handed over to Lieutenant Colonel G. V. Micklam, RE on 24 August 1950. He retired in May 1959.