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Auction: 18002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 434

(x) A Desert Rat’s Battalion C.O.’s group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel K. Mackessack, Seaforth Highlanders, who commanded the 2nd Battalion at El Alamein - until wounded - and afterwards served as a Military Attache in Washington D.C. 1943-46

India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1930-31 (Capt. K. Mackessack, Seaforth); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; United States of America, Legion of Merit, Officer’s breast badge, gilt and enamel, mounted as worn, the first lacquered, very fine and better (6)

Kenneth Mackessack was born at Ardgye, Elgin on 24 October 1902, the son of George Ross Mackessack. Educated at Rugby and the R.M.C. Sandhurst, where he captained the Cricket XI and played for the Rugby XV, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders in 1923.

He subsequently witnessed active service on the North-West Frontier in 1930-31 (Medal & clasp) and served as Adjutant of the 1st Battalion from 1935 to 1938. Advanced to Major shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, he was embarked for the Middle East and, as an Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded the 2nd Battalion at the battle of El Alamein. He was wounded and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 13 January 1944, refers). On recovering from his wounds, he was appointed a Military Attaché in Washington D.C., in which capacity he served from 1943 until the war’s end, gaining appointment to the Officer’s grade of the U.S. Legion of Merit (London Gazette 19 November 1948, refers).

Placed on the Retired List in 1948, Mackessack returned to Morayshire, where he was Chairman of the T.A. Association (1953-62) and Convenor of Moray County Coucil. The Colonel also served as D.L. from 1954 and as Vice Lieutenant from 1964; sold with a file of copied research.

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Sold for
£600