Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part II)

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse neatly inscribed ‘Captain Robert Macfarlane, M.C., 3rd Bn., Black Watch, att. 2nd Bn., killed in Mesopotamia, 21st April 1917’, in case of issue; together with a copy of the book, With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia 1916-1917, in which Macfarlane is mentioned a number of times and which also incudes a picture of recipient, published in 1918, with inscription by the author, Captain H. John Blampied ‘To Mrs Macfarlane with the authors compliments’, authors carte de visite pasted to inside cover and two original photos tipped in to text, each annotated on reverse in pencil ‘taken by R.M.’ and captioned ‘The march to Bagdad - Col. Wauchope and the Adj. with horses’; and ‘The march to Bagdad - The Pipers’, nearly extremely fine £350-400

M.C. London Gazette 26 April 1917, citation published 18 June 1917. The following more detailed citation is extracted from the book included with the lot: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Although wounded early in the action he continued to lead his company with great determination until the evening, when the position was finally taken by a bayonet charge. With great courage and skill he led his company up to a position from which he was able to enfilade the enemy at close range, thereby greatly assisting the charge.’

Captain Robert Macfarlane was wounded in action on 10 June 1916 and again on 14 March 1917, in the action for which he was awarded the M.C. He was killed in action on 21 April 1917, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Black Watch and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.