Lieutenant-Colonel H.P. Mackley
10th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

Lieutenant-Colonel Mackley accepted responsibility for any casualties that the concentration might cause. Down it came—on scale 5 from every gun in the Division— and it was repeated more than once. There was not a loose round or a British casualty, but the wood was so thoroughly plastered that the enemy ever after gave it a wide berth.

(H.G. Martin, The History of the Fifteenth Scottish Division 1939–1945, 198)

Born on 22 July 1903 in Woodford, Cheshire, Hugh Pelham Mackley was educated at RMC, Sandhurst and commissioned into the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1924. He served overseas in Hong Kong. He was promoted to captain in 1936, and the next year posted to the War Office as general staff officer for physical training. In February 1942, he was appointed commanding officer of the 12th Battalion, Cameronians. The unit took up garrison duty in British occupation of the Faroe Islands in May 1942.

Continue reading →