Orders, Decorations and Medals

The G.S.M. Palestine to Brigadier J. R. Mackintosh Walker, D.S.O., M.C. & two Bars, Seaforth Highlanders, killed in July 1944

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Capt., Seaforth) extremely fine £400-500

D.S.O. London Gazette 19 October 1944.

M.C. London Gazette 18 July 1917. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. After the attack he superintended the recovery of the wounded under heavy fire throughout the night. On a later date although wounded, he remained with his company until all the wounded had been cleared from the trench.’

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 15 October 1918. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and dash in an attack. He was in command of the supporting company, and when the officer commanding the leading company became a casualty he immediately assumed command of the situation. He pushed forward the advance with the greatest vigour, exposing himself fearlessly in the face of heavy machine-gun fire. His fine courage and initiative were mainly instrumental in ejecting the enemy from his position, and in capturing 24 prisoners and five machine-guns.’

Second Bar to M.C. London Gazette 1 February 1919. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty East of Arras on August 31st and September 1st 1918. He commanded the left flank of an attack on a farm, and on gaining his objective established touch with the unit on his left, and sent back a report and sketch of his dispositions. In spite of being wounded he stayed with his command all the following day, maintaining and readjusting the line in face of machine-gun and rifle fire. He showed coolness and judgement throughout.’

Despatches twice London Gazette 23 July 1937 (Palestine), 20 December 1940.

The following is extracted from The Wellington College Roll of Honour 1939-45. ‘Brigadier John Ronald Mackintosh Walker was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in 1916, with which regiment he fought in France during the Great War, being twice wounded and gaining the Military Cross with two bars. As a Regular soldier he fought in Waziristan (1930-31) and served in Egypt, Palestine and Hong Kong, where he was at the beginning of the war. Spring 1940 found him commanding a battalion of Cameron Highlanders with the 51st (Highland) Division and he was taken prisoner in the epic fighting at St Valery. While herded in a column of prisoners he dropped out, hid in a wood, and after six weeks managed to cross the Spanish frontier, having swum the Loire and crossed the Pyrenees by night. Taken prisoner on June 12th, he was back in England on August 4th 1940. Two years later he was in command of a brigade, with which he went to Normandy. He was killed on 15 July 1944, receiving a posthumous D.S.O. His Divisional Commander writes “He was awarded the D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry, his brigade having captured two river crossings which they held against seven counter-attacks until releived.” “There has never”, writes a brother officer, “been in our time a Seaforth Highlander more beloved or whose value was better appreciated by all ranks of his regiment“’Sold with further copied research detail and two copied photographs.