The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals

Pair: China 1900, no clasp (Midsn. L. D. J. Mackinnon, R.N., H.M.S. Dido); Order of the Medjidie, 3rd class neck badge in silver, gold and enamels, very fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Douglas-Morris Collection of Naval Medals.

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Donald Mackinnon was born in Speldhurst, Tunbridge, Kent, on 2 December 1882, and entered the Royal Navy as a Cadet aboard the Training Ship BRITANNIA on 15 July 1896. Promoted to Midshipman on 15 January 1898 on joining H.M.S. PRINCE GEORGE, he served next aboard DIDO (January 1899) in Chinese waters from June to December 1900. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15 November 1900 and next joined SYREN (November 1902) and RUSSELL (April 1903), being promoted to Lieutenant on 31 December 1903. He was subsequently reappointed to RUSSELL (April 1904), EXCELLENT (August 1907) Gunnery Course, HAWKE (June 1908) for Manouvres, EXCELLENT (September 1908) Junior Staff Course, EURYALUS (July 1909), BLAKE (December 1909) for Duty with Torpedo Boat Destroyers, and EXCELLENT (March 1911) Gunnery Course.

He was loaned to Turkish Government for one year as a Gunnery Instructor and was awarded the 3rd Class Order of Medjidie London Gazette 15 December 1911. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 31 December 1911 and appointed to INDOMITABLE (December 1912), and EXCELLENT (February 1913). He rejoined INDOMITABLE (April 1913) as part of the First Battle Cruiser Squadron and was present in this ship at the action at Dogger Bank in 1915 and the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Promoted to Commander 3 June 1916 he was reappointed to INDOMITABLE and subsequently served in this rank aboard BARHAM (August 1917), PRESIDENT (October 1918) 'For Special Services', and HOOD (March 1921). For services during the Great War he was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour London Gazette 17 December 1919.

Promoted to Captain on 30 June 1923, he was next appointed to VICTORY (January 1924) ‘Torpedo Course’, PRESIDENT (March 1924) Senior Officers’ War Course’, ASSISTANCE (February 1924) In Command, PRESIDENT (September 1924) as Captain of the Royal Naval College Greenwich, and DANAE (January 1927). Between 1928 to 1930 he held various Staff Appointments at the Admiralty until appointed Captain of the Fleet and to Command QUEEN ELIZABETH (August 1930), WARSPITE (August 1932) as Flag Captain to Rear Admiral W. F. French, and VICTORY (January 1934) as Chief of Staff to Commander in Chief Portsmouth. He was appointed A.D.C. to the King on 24 November 1934 and promoted to Rear Admiral on 3 March 1935. He was made C.B. (Military) in 1935, and also C.V.O.on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Naval Review by King George V in the same year. He joined PRESIDENT (March 1937) ‘For Senior Officers’ War Course’, and RESOLUTION (August 1937) as Rear Admiral in Command of 2nd Battle Squadron. Promoted to Vice Admiral on 30 November 1938, he retired on 11 January 1939. At the outbreak of World War II he offered his services and was appointed Commodore 2nd Class R.N.R. He joined EAGLET II at Liverpool on 16 September 1939 for Duties with Convoy Pool but reverted to the Retired List due to ill health on 11 January 1941 and died 11 October 1948.