28067 Brigadier Malcolm David ERSKINE, DSO, MiD, Scots Guards: 27/10/1949

Personal Number: 28067
Rank: Brigadier
Name: Malcolm David ERSKINE, CBE, DSO, MiD
Unit: Scots Guards


London Gazette : 1 February 1924
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32903/page/958/data.pdf
The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 31st Jan. 1924:—
S. G'ds.—Malcolm David Erskine.

London Gazette : 3 November 1936
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34337/page/7026/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
COMMANDS AND STAFF.
The undermentioned appts. are made: —
Capt. M. D. Erskine, S. G'ds., to be A.D.C. to the G.O.C., British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan (temp.). 1st Nov. 1936.

London Gazette : 24 November 1936
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34343/page/7572/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
S. G'ds.—The undermentioned are restd. to the estabt. 24th Nov. 1936:—
Capt. M. D. Erskine.

London Gazette : 20 December 1940
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35020/supplement/7184/data.pdf
The names of the undermentioned have been brought to notice in recognition of distinguished services in connection with operations in the field. March-June, 1940.
SCOTS GUARDS.
Capt. M. D. ERSKINE.

London Gazette : 4 February 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35063/supplement/675/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
S. G'ds.
Capt. M. D. Erskine (28067) to be Maj. 3ist Jan. 1941.

London Gazette : 4 May 1943
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36000/supplement/1995/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East: —
The Distinguished Service Order.
Major (temporary Lieutenant-Colonel) Malcolm David Erskine (28067), Scots Guards (Banbury, Oxon).

London Gazette : 24 September 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37736/supplement/4801/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
S. G'ds.
Maj. (War Subs. Lt.-Col.) M. D. ERSKINE, D.S.O. . (28067), to be Lt.-Col., 22nd Sept. 1946.

London Gazette : 4 April 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37922/supplement/1530/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
S. G'ds.
Maj. (War Subs. Lt.-Col.) M. D. ERSKINE, D.S.O. (28067) to be Lt.-Col., 24th May 1946. (Substituted for the notifn. in Gazette (Supplement) dated 24th Sept. 1946.)

London Gazette : 22 April 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37935/supplement/1763/data.pdf
REGULAR ARMY.
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments:—
Lt.-Col. (temp. Brig.) M. D. ERSKINE, D.S.O. (28067) from S. G'ds. to be Col., 31st Dec. 1946, with seniority 13th Dec. 1946.

 

Recommendation for Award for Erskine, Malcolm David Rank: Major Service No: ... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/24/278
Name Erskine, Malcolm David
Rank: Major
Service No: 28067
Regiment: 2 Scots Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Middle East (Egypt and Libya)
Award: Distinguished Service Order
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 04 May 1943

 

London Gazette : 20 December 1940
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35020/supplement/7174/data.pdf


https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35020/supplement/7184/data.pdf

 

Recommendation for Award for Erskine, Malcolm David Rank: Colonel Service... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/128/104
Name Erskine, Malcolm David
Rank: Colonel
Service No: 28067
Regiment: Scots Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Malaya
Award: Commander of British Empire
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 03 March 1950

 

AFM Results Page
Surname: ERSKINE
Forenames/Initials : Malcolm David
Rank: Brig
Service: Army
Service Number: 28067
Regiment/Corps : SCOTS GUARDS
Decorations: CBE, DSO
Date of Birth: 31 August 1903
Age: 46
Date of Death: 27 October 1949
Cemetery Name: TERENDAK MEMORIAL WALL
Included on Armed Forces Memorial: Yes
Included on Roll of Honour: Yes

 

Interestingly, this award was ordered to have effect from 26.9.49 so as to predate his disappearance in an Auster over Malaya by one day and ensure that the award not be posthumous.

Erskine at that time commanded 2 Guards Bde. His pilot, Capt. J F Churcher R.A., disappeared with him, and despite an extensive searches, neither plane nor body was found until July 1954.

Captain John Churcher of 1907 Flight lost his life in another crash on 27 October. He had been detailed to fly Brigadier M.D. Erskine from the airstrip at Seremban to a jungle strip. While the Brigadier was about his business the weather had closed in and Churcher advised him that it would be sensible to stay the night.



Capt J Churcher and Brig MD Erskine DSO, who lost their lives in a crash on October 27 1949

According to the late Colonel John Moss (who was at the time a young, Air OP qualified RA captain in Malaya and was maintaining his skills by flying for 656 on an opportunity basis and was actually on foot patrol in the same area that day and who recalled thinking it was lousy weather for flying) the Brigadier pulled rank and insisted that they should depart forthwith. Accordingly, Auster AOP V, TJ674, took off and disappeared. Despite extensive aerial searches by Austers and Dakotas, nothing was found – until nearly five years later, when a foot patrol came upon some scattered wreckage and some human bones. From a few fragments of medal ribbon, they were able to ascertain that one of the victims had held the DSO – which the missing Brigadier had been awarded. The OC wrote of John Churcher as follows,

‘This officer will be greatly missed. He was very efficient, hardworking and greatly liked and admired by all ranks. He set a magnificent example by his attention to duty and unfailing cheerfulness. Although there is little hope now of him being found alive we all sincerely hope that by some lucky chance he is still alive and will be found.’

Source:
Malaya – Korea 1948-1960 – 656 Squadron Association

The Green Howards found someone else's skeleton during the search, but that's another story.

There is also a tale of a psychic claiming to have located the crash site, but I don't yet have all the details.

 

No mention of him in 2 SG war diary for October/January 1941/1942 that I can find.

All the ebst

Andreas

 

From The Scots Guards, 1919 - 1955; David Hervey Erskine


Page 115
On the 21st [August, 1942] Lieutenant-Colonel M. D. ERSKINE, who had previously commanded the First Battalion and had come from London District, took over command, and four days later the Battalion moved back to Mena where it was charged with the defence of the desert road to Cairo; the supporting gunners had an OP on the Great Pyramid. On the 31st Rommel started his final drive for the Delta.


Appendix E, Page 569
Name: ERSKINE, Malcolm David
Period of Service in the Regiment: 1924 - 1949
Highest Rank reached in the Regiment: Colonel
War Service:

• Palestine, 1936
• France, 1940
• Middle East
• North Africa
• Italy
• Malaya
• (Killed on Active Service)

 

Great thanks, that would explain it.

All the best

Andreas