Gordon MacMillan

Sir Gordon MacMillan
General Sir Gordon MacMillan – portrait by Leonard Boden, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle.
Nickname(s)	"Babe"
Born	(1897-01-07)7 January 1897 Bangalore, Kingdom of Mysore, India
Died	21 January 1986(1986-01-21) (aged 89) Renfrewshire, Scotland
Buried	Newington Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1915–1955
Rank	General
Service number	5880
Unit	Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Commands held	Governor of Gibraltar (1952–55) Scottish Command (1949–52) British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan (1947–48) 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (1945) 49th (West Riding) Infantry Division (1944–45) 15th (Scottish) Infantry Division (1943–44) 152nd Infantry Brigade (1943) 12th Infantry Brigade (1943) 199th Infantry Brigade (1941)
Battles/wars	First World War Anglo-Irish War Second World War Palestine Emergency
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross & Two Bars Mentioned in Despatches (2) Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
Relations	Sir John MacMillan (son)

General Sir Gordon Holmes Alexander MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap, KCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO, MC & Two Bars (7 January 1897 – 21 January 1986) was a Scottish professional soldier who rose to become a general in the British Army. As a young officer during the First World War, he displayed outstanding bravery and was awarded a Military Cross and two Bars. At the age of 19 and while still a second lieutenant, he was appointed acting adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Between the World Wars, MacMillan remained in the army, occupying posts of increasing seniority. He married Marian Blakiston Houston in 1929, and they had one daughter and four sons.

During the Second World War, MacMillan served initially in England, putting in place defensive strategies against a possible invasion by the Germans. He was appointed Brigadier General Staff IX Corps in December 1941, remaining in this post during the Operation Torch landings in North Africa and through to the fall of Tunis in May 1943. He was given command of the 152nd Brigade in June 1943 and led it during the successful Sicily campaign. Upon return to Britain, he was assigned command of the 15th (Scottish) Division and led the formation during the Battle of Normandy, Operation Epsom and Operation Bluecoat, towards the end of which he was wounded. Once recovered, in November 1944, he returned to mainland Europe as GOC 49th (West Riding) Division near Nijmegen. Upon the death of Major-General Thomas Rennie, he assumed command of the 51st (Highland) Division immediately following the crossing of the Rhine on 23 March 1945.

After the war, MacMillan served as the army's Director of Weapons and Development. In February 1947 he was appointed GOC British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan. Soon after his arrival, the British Government decided to bring to an end its Mandate in Palestine. This decision triggered an escalation of violence in the territory, leading to the withdrawal of all British forces by 30 June 1948. He then served as GOC Scottish Command (1949–52). His final army posting was as Governor and Commander-in-Chief Gibraltar (1952–55).

Gordon MacMillan was hereditary Chief of the Clan MacMillan.^[1] After retirement, he remained Colonel of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders until 1958. Following his retirement, he immersed himself in Scottish life and society, being appointed chairman of several institutions. Much of his time was devoted to the upkeep of the house, gardens and woodlands at Finlaystone,^[2] the family house in the West of Scotland.