Lt-Col Robert Leith-Macgregor RIP

Kyt · Jan 8, 2009

An incredible man

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Leith-Macgregor - Telegraph

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Leith-Macgregor, who has died aged 91, grew bored with service as a soldier on the Belgian frontier in late 1939, and transferred to enjoy an exciting flying career with the RAF.

After making an early solo flight in a Tiger Moth he was caught in thick cloud over the Hog's Back, near Guildford, and made a forced landing near a large house, where he hoped for a good lunch. But a formidable-looking woman appeared with a shotgun and a posse to march him down the hill until he convinced them of his bona fides and got his lunch after all. While learning to fly Lysanders with the School of Army Co-operation, he was told to practise spraying a farm, but not that a wedding reception was being held there. He later learned that after he launched his pink spray the wedding cake looked as if it had contracted chickenpox.

A spell with No 241 Squadron on coastal patrols was followed by a posting to fly Hurricanes with No 208 Squadron in reconnaissance support of the Eighth Army in North Africa. When he was first shot down, three German fighters strafed his aircraft on the ground before he could climb from the wreckage, but he escaped uninjured. On another occasion his engine failed after being hit by anti-aircraft fire and he crash-landed in the desert. As he climbed down from the cockpit two bullets whistled over his head. They came from a South African unit, warning him that he was in an active minefield; their brigadier was mortified to learn that Leith-Macgregor had taxied 75 yards without detonating anything.

By June 1942 he had been promoted flight lieutenant and was making a reconnaissance sortie near Bir Hakeim, Libya, when he was jumped by four Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters. He took them all on, and shot one down. His aircraft landed in flames near El Adem and although strafed on the ground he succeeded in getting clear to arrive back at base. There he found his flight sergeant (who had watched the encounter) loudly lamenting his demise and detailing a burial party. Leith-Macgregor was awarded an immediate DFC.

In August, over El Alamein, he was diving at high speed from 10,000ft when his Hurricane was hit by flak and set on fire. He was too low to bale out and had to come down behind German lines. The hood jammed, trapping him inside. With his ammunition exploding, the Germans courageously broke it open with an axe and dragged him free.

Leith-Macgregor made an attempt to escape and was transferred to an Italian PoW camp, where he was vigorously interrogated by an Alpino officer equipped with a pair of heavy boots. He was then thrown into a cage measuring 5ft by 3ft and had nothing to eat or drink until some black Rhodesian PoWs, who were unloading a ship, smuggled tinned peaches to him after dark. After his release from the cage, a friendly Italian officer tried to make up for the initial ill-treatment by inviting Leith-Macgregor to dinner and promising a visit to a brothel. The cooks, however, refused to serve him and the ladies were uncooperative, so he was flown to a camp at Bari without any consolation.

Leith-Macgregor went on to Camp Five at Gavi and then, after the Italian armistice in September 1943, was transferred to Stalag Luft III, where escape plans were well-advanced, including one which resulted in the Great Escape. He was not among those who got away, and as the Russians approached in February 1945, the prisoners were marched west to a naval PoW camp near Hamburg, where liberation arrived in the form of a sergeant in the Scots Guards who cut through the perimeter wire.

The son of a rear-admiral, Robert Leith-Macgregor was born at Melton Mowbray on August 23 1917. He passed into the Nautical College, Pangbourne, but the five hours of mathematics every day proved unendurable and, after three years, he went to Sandhurst and was subsequently commissioned into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.

He was posted to the 2nd battalion at Bordon, Hampshire, where his room was in a corrugated hut that had been condemned in the Boer War. When the battalion acquired a pack of beagles, he was made whip and then master of the pack. He detested running, and on their first time out a fox ran straight for 13 miles to a local colliery; a couple of the hounds then refused to move despite threats and bribes.

In May 1939 Leith-Macgregor was posted to Birkenhead as an infantry training instructor; the new intake of conscripts threw their bread and tea against the mess tent walls on the first day. When the camp was once opened to the public he found three girls sitting on his bed reading his mail. They were ejected screaming by the guard. It was while digging machine-gun positions in Belgium over the Christmas of 1940 that he volunteered to become an Army liaison pilot.

After returning to the Northumberland Fusiliers at the end of the war, Leith-Macgregor was a major with the 1st Battalion when it was sent to Korea as part of the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group in 1950.

The following January he was in command of "Y" Company, on the line of the Imjin river, with orders to hold a hill feature which was the key to the battalion's position.

When the Chinese attacked in strength, he sited his small force with such skill that all attempts to dislodge it were frustrated, and then withdrew it without losing a single man. He was awarded an MC.

Leith-Macgregor commanded a company at Eaton Hall Officer Cadet School in Cheshire, and then served as second-in-command of the 3rd Battalion, the Nigeria Regiment. After a spell as training major in 7 RNF (TA), he commanded 1 RNF in Hong Kong and BAOR before retiring from the Army in 1962.

He later became a marketing director for a number of hotel groups, and published his memoirs privately in 2007.

Robert Leith-Macgregor died on November 14. He married, in 1945, Pamela, the daughter of Sir Nutcombe Hume. She predeceased him, and he is survived by a daughter.
Click to expand...

Antipodean Andy · Jan 8, 2009

I think I can see why he decided to get into flying. There seemed to be cock-ups all round during his time as a soldier! A truly remarkable man. Anyone come across his memoirs? They would make fascinating reading particularly from the point of view of army co-op in the desert.

RIP.

Antipodean Andy · Jan 8, 2009

Another good well-written for Leith-Macgregor with extra detail:

Lt-Col Robert Leith-MacGregor, MD, DFC: pilot and soldier | Times Online Obituary

At different times in a varied and what he regarded as an often amusing life, Robbie Leith-MacGregor wore the uniform of all three Services. He had hoped to follow his stepfather into the Royal Navy but, while at Pangbourne, it was decided he was unlikely to reach the standard in mathematics, so he went to Sandhurst instead. He won his DFC with the Royal Air Force and his Military Cross with the Army in separate wars.

Commissioned in 1938 into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers — the “Fifth Fusiliers” as they were known from their number in the Infantry of the Line — he accompanied the 2nd Battalion to France with the British Expeditionary Force just after the outbreak of war. He missed the debacle of Dunkirk because he was seconded to the RAF for pilot training in April 1940.

It was intended that after qualification as a pilot he would be engaged on Army co-operation work. Having gained his wings, he seized the opportunity to join a squadron flying Lysanders in support of the Eighth Army in the Western Desert. Subsequently, he transferred to No 208 Squadron flying Hurricane and Tomahawk fighters and it was with this squadron that he won his DFC in June 1942.

While on reconnaissance patrol in the area of Bir Hacheim, after the Eighth Army’s abandonment of the Gazala Line, he was “jumped” by four Messerschmitt 109 fighters, which attacked him in turn. Displaying airmanship which he afterwards protested he had no idea he possessed, he countered each attack and shot down one of the Messerschmitts. The remaining three pursued him towards El Adem, where his aircraft crashed in flames. Climbing out unhurt, he was amazed to find himself in the forward positions manned by soldiers of his own regiment.

He was less fortunate in a later engagement and shot down over El Alamein before the decisive Eighth Army advance, taken prisoner and held, first in Italy and then Germany, until the end of the war. His secondment to the RAF completed, he rejoined the 2nd Battalion of his regiment in Greece in December 1946.

In 1950 he accompanied the 1st Battalion to Korea, where they joined 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group under the command of the US Eighth Army opposing the North Korean invasion. Leith-MacGregor was in command of Y Company. (As a former medium machinegun regiment, the Fifth Fusiliers titled their companies W, X, Y and Z to distinguish them from the companies of infantry battalions to whom they gave supporting fire.)

Until very shortly before new year 1951 the line of the Imjin river was being firmly held by one US and two South Korean divisions in anticipation of a big Chinese attack. This began at 21.30 on New Year’s Eve and, some ground having been lost in one of the South Korean divisional areas, 29 Brigade was ordered to mount a counter-attack. When it was discovered that the enemy penetration was deeper than at first thought, the brigade was switched to a defensive blocking position. Leith-MacGregor’s Y Company was made responsible for the key feature on the left of the battalion sector — Hill 280, which rose about 600ft above the road along its western side.

At 17.15 on January 3 the Chinese attacked the centre of the Fifth Fusiliers’ position. The deserted village immediately in front was overrun, and a number of snipers penetrated between the forward company positions and on to the rearward slopes of Hill 280. From there they were able to keep up a harassing fire on to the rear of the centre company and, having been joined by two machineguns during the night, to dominate a key track junction on the battalion’s lateral communications.

The assault on Y Company’s position began at first light and continued during the whole of that day. But Y Company had been well trained by Leith-MacGregor and everyone had complete confidence in his judgment. Throughout the action all attempts to dislodge him were frustrated owing to the skill with which he had sited his company and the determination with which he inspired his men to hold it. Confidence in him was shared by the Fifth Fusiliers’ commanding officer, who was convinced that Hill 280 would not fall so long as men of Y Company were left to defend it. When the order for the battalion to withdraw was finally given, Leith-MacGregor brought out his company without the loss of a single man. He was awarded the Military Cross.

Robert Leith-MacGregor was the only son of Frametta Burle, whose second husband, a rear-admiral, had encouraged him to try for the Royal Navy. After his service in Korea he was second-in-command of 3rd Battalion Royal Nigerian Regiment and commanded 1st Battalion the Fifth Fusiliers in Hong Kong and Germany 1960-63. As the nearest he had come to the Staff College was, in his words, when co-opted to keep goal for the Camberley hockey team while at Sandhurst, he decided that his military future would be limited after commanding his regiment, so he left the Army.

He was a representative for Guinness in London for some years and later marketing and sales director for Rank Hotels and the Park Lane Hotel.

He was married to Pamela, the daughter of Sir Nutcombe Hume, in 1945. She predeceased him and he is survived by one daughter.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Leith-MacGregor, MC, DFC, was born on August 23, 1917. He died on November 14, 2008, aged 91
Click to expand...

Antipodean Andy · Jan 8, 2009

Another well-written obit for Leith-Macgregor with additional detail:

Lt-Col Robert Leith-MacGregor, MD, DFC: pilot and soldier | Times Online Obituary

At different times in a varied and what he regarded as an often amusing life, Robbie Leith-MacGregor wore the uniform of all three Services. He had hoped to follow his stepfather into the Royal Navy but, while at Pangbourne, it was decided he was unlikely to reach the standard in mathematics, so he went to Sandhurst instead. He won his DFC with the Royal Air Force and his Military Cross with the Army in separate wars.

Commissioned in 1938 into the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers — the “Fifth Fusiliers” as they were known from their number in the Infantry of the Line — he accompanied the 2nd Battalion to France with the British Expeditionary Force just after the outbreak of war. He missed the debacle of Dunkirk because he was seconded to the RAF for pilot training in April 1940.

It was intended that after qualification as a pilot he would be engaged on Army co-operation work. Having gained his wings, he seized the opportunity to join a squadron flying Lysanders in support of the Eighth Army in the Western Desert. Subsequently, he transferred to No 208 Squadron flying Hurricane and Tomahawk fighters and it was with this squadron that he won his DFC in June 1942.

While on reconnaissance patrol in the area of Bir Hacheim, after the Eighth Army’s abandonment of the Gazala Line, he was “jumped” by four Messerschmitt 109 fighters, which attacked him in turn. Displaying airmanship which he afterwards protested he had no idea he possessed, he countered each attack and shot down one of the Messerschmitts. The remaining three pursued him towards El Adem, where his aircraft crashed in flames. Climbing out unhurt, he was amazed to find himself in the forward positions manned by soldiers of his own regiment.

He was less fortunate in a later engagement and shot down over El Alamein before the decisive Eighth Army advance, taken prisoner and held, first in Italy and then Germany, until the end of the war. His secondment to the RAF completed, he rejoined the 2nd Battalion of his regiment in Greece in December 1946.

In 1950 he accompanied the 1st Battalion to Korea, where they joined 29th Independent Infantry Brigade Group under the command of the US Eighth Army opposing the North Korean invasion. Leith-MacGregor was in command of Y Company. (As a former medium machinegun regiment, the Fifth Fusiliers titled their companies W, X, Y and Z to distinguish them from the companies of infantry battalions to whom they gave supporting fire.)

Until very shortly before new year 1951 the line of the Imjin river was being firmly held by one US and two South Korean divisions in anticipation of a big Chinese attack. This began at 21.30 on New Year’s Eve and, some ground having been lost in one of the South Korean divisional areas, 29 Brigade was ordered to mount a counter-attack. When it was discovered that the enemy penetration was deeper than at first thought, the brigade was switched to a defensive blocking position. Leith-MacGregor’s Y Company was made responsible for the key feature on the left of the battalion sector — Hill 280, which rose about 600ft above the road along its western side.

At 17.15 on January 3 the Chinese attacked the centre of the Fifth Fusiliers’ position. The deserted village immediately in front was overrun, and a number of snipers penetrated between the forward company positions and on to the rearward slopes of Hill 280. From there they were able to keep up a harassing fire on to the rear of the centre company and, having been joined by two machineguns during the night, to dominate a key track junction on the battalion’s lateral communications.

The assault on Y Company’s position began at first light and continued during the whole of that day. But Y Company had been well trained by Leith-MacGregor and everyone had complete confidence in his judgment. Throughout the action all attempts to dislodge him were frustrated owing to the skill with which he had sited his company and the determination with which he inspired his men to hold it. Confidence in him was shared by the Fifth Fusiliers’ commanding officer, who was convinced that Hill 280 would not fall so long as men of Y Company were left to defend it. When the order for the battalion to withdraw was finally given, Leith-MacGregor brought out his company without the loss of a single man. He was awarded the Military Cross.

Robert Leith-MacGregor was the only son of Frametta Burle, whose second husband, a rear-admiral, had encouraged him to try for the Royal Navy. After his service in Korea he was second-in-command of 3rd Battalion Royal Nigerian Regiment and commanded 1st Battalion the Fifth Fusiliers in Hong Kong and Germany 1960-63. As the nearest he had come to the Staff College was, in his words, when co-opted to keep goal for the Camberley hockey team while at Sandhurst, he decided that his military future would be limited after commanding his regiment, so he left the Army.

He was a representative for Guinness in London for some years and later marketing and sales director for Rank Hotels and the Park Lane Hotel.

He was married to Pamela, the daughter of Sir Nutcombe Hume, in 1945. She predeceased him and he is survived by one daughter.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Leith-MacGregor, MC, DFC, was born on August 23, 1917. He died on November 14, 2008, aged 91
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Lt-Col Robert Leith-Macgregor RIP

Kyt Άρης

Antipodean Andy New Member

Antipodean Andy New Member

Antipodean Andy New Member

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Lt-Col Robert Leith-Macgregor RIP

Thread Tools

Kyt Άρης

Antipodean Andy New Member

Antipodean Andy New Member

Antipodean Andy New Member

Share This Page

Useful Searches