Posted on 11/11/2014 12:13:29 PM PST by the scotsman
'A SCOT who became Britain’s most decorated soldier for his audacious exploits during the Second World War – which included single-handedly forcing a column of German troops and SS Panzer tanks to surrender – has died at the age 94.
Sir Tommy Macpherson, who fought with No 11 (Scottish) Commando in Europe, and was awarded the Military Cross three times, the Croix de Guerre three times and the Legion d’Honneur, died on Thursday.
He is among the former servicemen and women who will be honoured tomorrow in a host of Remembrance Sunday events in towns, cities and villages across Scotland.
Renowned for his bravery, Edinburgh-born Sir Tommy was only 23 when he was part of a forward party in occupied France ahead of D Day. He caused so much damage to German military infrastructure that they placed a massive price of 300,000 francs on his head.
His most fearless act came during the same deployment. He confronted the leader of a 23,000-strong column of battle-hardened troops, led by an SS Panzer division, persuaded them they were outnumbered and outgunned by Allied forces, and forced them to surrender.'
(Excerpt) Read more at scotsman.com ...
They don’t make them like that anymore.
His indomitable spirit saw him make numerous escape attempts following his capture by Italian troops while on a mission in Libya.
After two years in captivity, he made his final break for freedom, helped by a black marketeer and the Polish resistance, and covered 300 miles of enemy territory before stowing away on a coal ship bound for neutral Sweden, then heading back home to Scotland
This is confusing. Maybe the author got his dates backwards.
The fighting in Libya was over by D-Day. And the war only lasted about one more year after D-Day.
Agreed. His war record/bravery is ridiculous. In the good sense.
Back then, we had this little thing called a declaration of war, and we insisted on unconditional surrender. We haven’t done that in 69 years.
Wow.
Just got done reading up on him and was amazed by his exploits.
Connery in his younger days should have portrayed him in a film.
Tough Scots actors of today, like Dougray Scott or Gerard Butler still could. Even Ewan McGregor at a push.
No. The column was not led by an SS Panzer division. It was rear area and fortress troops in southern France realizing they could not make it back to the Reich. Their options were few and they elected to surrender. The time of the surrender was in August, 1944.
He was captured in 1942 and held as a POW for nearly 2 years. He escaped, was sent to France as a Jedburgh team member to southern France and encountered the 2 SS Panzer Division as it road marched towards Normandy. (It had been stationed in the Toulouse-Montaubon area on invasion watch.) The team did what they could do but they could not stop the division.
This should clarify the timeline a bit. And it shows that hiding beneath that kilt was a huge pair of brass balls!
Rest in peace.
BTTT
RIP.
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