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Auction: 23112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 588

(x) The campaign group of seven awarded to Lieutenant Colonel G. I. Malcolm, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 18th Laird of Poltalloch, Hereditary Clan Chieftain of Clan McCallum and Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Argyll, who was 'mentioned' during the 1936 Palestine Revolt and later founded the Edinburgh Tattoo

General Service 1918-62, Palestine, with M.I.D. oak leaf; (Capt. G, I, Malcolm. A.&S.H.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1935, mounted as worn, very fine (7)

George Ian Malcolm was born on 26 April 1903, the son of Jean Marie and Sir Ian Zachary Malcolm, K.C.M.G., M.P. for Poltalloch. He was also the nephew of Lord Louis Mountbatten, with his Grandfather on his mother's side being Lord Louis Alexander Battenberg - later Mountbatten, 1st Marquis of Milford Haven. It is also worthy of note that his grandmother was Emilie Charlotte, Lady de Bathe - otherwise (and more famously known) as the socialist, stage actress and producer Lillie Langtry.

Educated at Eton, he entered the Royal Military College Sandhurst and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1923. Seeing service in the Palestine Revolt of 1936 he was 'mentioned' for his services. On the outbreak of the Second World War he was stationed with the 1st Battalion in North Africa and later on the island of Crete and promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in 1943. He was later appointed British Military Liaison to the United States Marine Corps, witnessing the Saipan Landings while there. The same year his father died, making Malcolm the 18th Laird of Poltalloch and the Clan Chieftain of Clan McCallum (Malcolm).

After the end of the war he was appointed Commander of the 8th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders between 1945-46. Later he was to hold the office of Deputy Lieutenant of Argyll in 1948 and Justice of the Peace for Argyll in 1949. He was the producer of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in its inaugural year of 1950, starting a tradition that carries on to this day; he was also the initiator of the musical component of the Highland Games. Appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for Argyll in 1958.

Retiring from the Army in 1967 Malcolm resided at Duntrune Castle. He died in Middlesex in 1976; sold together with a copied London Gazette extract and a biographical note.

A link to British Pathe Archive footage of the first Edinburgh Military Tattoo can be found here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3ViWxhOZTc

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£700

Starting price
£280