Colonel William George McHardy RIP

Kyt · Jul 29, 2008

War hero holder of Military Cross dies after short illness - Press & Journal

A FORMER commanding officer of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, who was awarded the Military Cross during World War II, has died after a short illness.

Following his distinguished military career, Colonel William George McHardy became a popular and respected figure on Deeside, as factor of the Balmoral estate and later a farmer and cattle breeder.

Col McHardy attended Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders soon after the outbreak of war in October 1939.

As a company commander of 2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders – part of the 51st (Highland) Division – he fought in the Middle East, taking part in all operations, from El Alamein in October 1942 to the defeat of the Axis Forces in Tunisia in April 1943.

His battalion suffered heavily at the Wadi Akarit position and, as temporary adjutant, he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry.

After the end of the war in North Africa, he was wounded in the invasion of Sicily but went on to take command of the battalion when his commanding officer was taken prisoner of war.

He was severely wounded eight days after landing in Normandy as part of the 51st (Highland) Division in the summer of 1944, but was passed fit for duty again by November of that year.

He served for the next 25 years and between 1962 and 1964 he commanded the regiment – which had by then become the Queen’s Own Highlanders following the amalgamation of the Seaforths with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

Former colleagues remember him as a fair, considerate professional, who set high standards for himself and others and had an infectious sense of humour.

On leaving the Army in 1965 he was appointed factor of the Balmoral estate – a position he held until 1979. There, he and wife June raised a son, Julian, and two daughters, Jennifer and Caroline, who went on to give him seven grandchildren.

Following his retirement from Balmoral he became a keen farmer.

He was made a MBE in 1949, MVO in 1973 and advanced to CVO in 1979.

He died in hospital, near his home at Banchory, after a short illness on June 20, his 88th birthday.
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Pathfinder · Aug 3, 2008

RIP Colonel McHardy

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Colonel William George McHardy RIP

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