Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct Badge (2), attributed to Dr. J. Macpherson, original plastic issues, both in original card box of issue, extremely fine (2) £200-240

K.C.B.C. London Gazette 25 April 1941.
The recommendation states: ‘On Saturday, 26th October 1940, at approximately 12 noon, the building at No. 1 Curzon Street, in which the Regimental Pay Officer is situated, received a direct hit by an enemy bomb. Dr. Macpherson was severely injured in the head, wrist and leg, but in spite of this went to the scene of the explosion to search for casualties and render medical attention. He then returned to the First Aid Post and continued to attend to injured members of the office staff until compelled, by loss of blood, to go to hospital and have his own wounds dressed. Here he attended to his injuries himself, in order not to cause trouble, even to stitching his own wounds. By his complete disregard for his own wounds, Dr. Macpherson set a fine example, and enabled the more serious cases to be medically treated without delay.’

An eyewitness to the incident, Mr. E. Moss, a Southwark Stretcher Bearer who helped to deal with casualties arising from the incident, gave the following statement: ‘I was in the vicinity at the time and on the scene of disaster in two minutes, being a First Aid man of the Southwark Stretcher Parties Depot No. 1. While dealing with the dead and injured, Dr. Macpherson came up to me and gave me a hand. When I looked at his face it was covered with blood. I offered to see to his injury, whereupon he replied, “You carry on, you are doing fine, I can wait.” I have since learned that he was also suffering from severed arteries in the leg and arm. In the circumstances and conditions prevailing at the time I think he did a very courageous work.’

Sold together with the recipient’s King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct Certificate, named to ‘James Macpherson, M.B., Medical Practitioner, Westminster’, and dated ‘25 April, 1941.’; two letters to the recipient regarding has gallantry in the action, the latter of which informs him of the award; a copy of the book Westminster in War by William Sansom; and various copied research.