Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Major-General D. C. F. MacIntyre, C.B., Indian Army, four times mentioned in despatches and recommended for the Victoria Cross

Afghanistan 1878-80, no clasp (2nd Lieut., 78th Foot); India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, N.E. Frontier 1891 (Captn., S.C.); India General Service 1895-1902, 3 clasps, Punjab Frontier 1897-98, Samana 1897, Tirah 1897-98 (Capt., 2d Bn. 2d Goorkhas) correction to ‘Goorkhas’; India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Abor 1911-12 (Colonel, Staff); British War Medal 1914-20 (Maj. Gen.); Delhi Durbar 1903, silver, unnamed; Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed, mounted as worn; together with a Regimental Shooting Medal, silver cross inscribed, ‘BPRA 1900 C in C’s Cup, 2nd Bn. 2nd PWO Goorkhas’, some contact marks, generally very fine (8) £3000-3500

Donald Charles Frederick MacIntyre was born on 17 April 1859, the eldest son of General John MacKenzie MacIntyre, R.A., J.P., of Fortrose, Ross-shire, and nephew of Major-General Donald MacIntyre, V.C. On leaving Sandhurst he entered the British Army in 1879, serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 78th Regiment and taking part in the Second Afghan War. He transferred to the Bengal Staff Corps in 1882 and became a Captain in the Indian Staff Corps in 1890. Serving in the Manipur expedition 1891, he was mentioned in despatches (G.G.O. 585 of 1891). Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India, refers:

‘It was first intended that the main advance should be from Kohima, as it was anticipated that the Cachar Column would be delayed by the difficulties of the route and of transport. Two preliminary movements were ordered. The first was under command of Captain MacIntyre, who advanced with 200 police and burned Mao Thana, after a sharp skirmish with the enemy, on the 31st March: a prompt action which was considered very creditable to Captain MacIntyre by the Commander-in-Chief, and which had the effect of clearing most of the road from Kohima to Manipur’.

Then on the N.W. Frontier, he served in the operations on the Samana during August-September 1897 and in the relief of Gulistan. In the Tirah expedition, he served in the actions at Chagru Kotal, Darga and of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes; the operations in the Waran Valley and action of 16 November 1897; the operations at and around Dwato and action of 24 November 1897; operations against the Khani Khel Chamkannis, and operations in the Bora Valley, 7-14 December 1897. For his services he was twice mentioned in despatches (G.G.O.58 and 244 of 1898) and received the brevet of Major. For his services at the action at Wana, not only was he mentioned in despatches but was considered for the Victoria Cross. The Times of 5 January 1898 reported:

‘The gallantry of Capt D. C. F. Macintyre and Surg. Capt W. Selby, 1st Batt., 2nd Gurkhas, has been brought specially to notice in order that their claims may be considered in connexion with the award of the Victoria Cross; Capt Macintyre saved the body of Lieut. Wylie from mutilation by carrying it away under a very heavy fire when in command of the rear guard retiring from Waran. On the same occasion Surg. Capt Selby displayed signal gallantry by saving the life of a wounded Gurkha who, but for his assistance, would have fallen into the hands of the enemy’.

And in The Times of 6 January 1898:

Sir- Under the head of "Military Intelligence" you refer this morning to the gallantry of the 2nd Gurkhas in "Saving from mutilation" the body of his brother officer, Lieutenant Wylie - an act of bravery which you say has been specially brought to the notice of the authorities. Although, of course it in no way adds to the actual bravery of the exploit, it should, I think, be known that when Captain Macintyre went back in the face of the enemy's fire on hearing that a comrade had been hit, he did so in the hope of not merely carrying away his body, but of saving his life. That this was so is made clear by the following extract form a private letter written by Captain Macintyre immediately after the event. He says - " I came back on Wylie's Company, and a man of ours told me a Sahib had been hit .... I only thought he was wounded .... I rushed to his side and found he (Wylie) was dead." I am Sir your obedient servant, Ronald M'Neil’.

Serving as a Colonel on the Staff during the operations in Abor Country, 1911-12, MacIntyre was again mentioned in despatches (Gazette of India 23 May 1912) and was awarded the C.B.

In the ‘Despatch Describing the Operations Against the Abors, by Major-General H. Bower (London Gazette 16 July 1912), it records:

‘Colonel D. C. MacIntyre, Indian Army, Base Commandant and Inspector, Line of Communications, has performed his duties to my complete satisfaction. He conducted missions to the Panggi and Padam countries, being in both political and military charge. Largely owing to his tact in dealing with savage people these missions were most successful and resulted in the establishment of excellent relations and a large increase to our geographical knowledge’.

He commanded the Jhelum Brigade, Northern Army, 1912-14, and attained the rank of Major-General in May 1914. During the Great War he served as a Staff Officer at the War Office. Major-General MacIntyre, C.B. died in Brussels on 19 October 1938. With copied research.