Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Private R. J. Mackie, Gordon Highlanders, who was captured and taken Prisoner of War at Le Cateau in August 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (9888 Pte. R. Mackie. 1/Gord: Highrs.); British War and Victory Medals (9888 Pte. R. J. Mackie. Gordons.) good very fine (3) £140-£180

Richard J. Mackie attested for the Gordon Highlanders (his father’s regiment) as a Bandsman aged 14, and served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. He would have been present at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914 and also at Le Cateau on 26 August 1914, where the order to retire reached the Gordons some hours late by which time the main body of the British Expeditionary Force were some distance away. The Gordons, with two companies of 2nd Battalion Royal Irish, then attempted to follow, but ran into a strong German force on the outskirts of Bertry and after an hour’s fierce fighting many men became casualties and large numbers were forced to surrender. Mackie was amongst those captured and taken Prisoner of War at Bertry; a fellow comrade stating:
’We were fighting a rearguard action, and in consequence of some misunderstanding about retiring, we were surrounded on the night of 26th-27th August 1914. We surrendered at 2 a.m. on 27th - 496 unwounded prisoners altogether.’

Sold with copied newspaper extract, confirming that the recipient ‘has been a prisoner of War since Mons’, with a photographic image of the recipient; copied Medal Index Card; and other research.