Personal Number: 89506 Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel Name: William Stephen Ian WHITELAW, MC, MiD Unit: Scot Guards London Gazette : 1 December 1939 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34745/supplement/8088/data.pdf FOOT GUARDS. The undermentioned to be 2nd Lts.:— S. G'ds. 7th Oct. 1939:— 2nd Lt. William Stephen Ian WHITELAW (89506) (Univ. Cands.), from Gen. List ( T . A . ) . London Gazette : 21 December 1944 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36850/supplement/5855/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe: — The Military Cross. Captain (temporary Major) William Stephen Ian Whitelaw (89506), Scots Guards (Melrose, Roxburghshire). London Gazette : 8 November 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37340/supplement/5444/data.pdf The KING has been graciously pleased to approve that the following be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North-West Europe: — S. G'ds. Lt.-Col. (actg.) W. S. I. WHITELAW, M.C. (89506) London Gazette : 2 July 1946 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37635/supplement/3375/data.pdf FOOT GUARDS The undermentioned Lts to be Capts 1st July, S. G'ds. (War Subs Capt) W. S. I. WHITELAW, M.C (89506) London Gazette : 25 July 1947 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38024/supplement/3483/data.pdf FOOT GUARDS. S. G'ds. Capt. W. S. I. WHITELAW, M.C. (89506), resigns his commn , 26th July 1947, and is granted the hon. rank of Maj. London Gazette : 3 September 1968 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44667/supplement/9582/data.pdf INFANTRY GUARDS DIVISION REGULAR ARMY RESERVE OF OFFICERS Capt. (Hon. Maj.) W. S. I. WHITELAW, M.C. (89506), S.G., having attained the age limit, relin- quishes his commn., 28th Jun. 1968, retaining the hon. rank of Maj.
Recommendation for Award for Whitelaw, William Stephen Ian Rank: Temporary Major... | The National Archives Name Whitelaw, William Stephen Ian Rank: Temporary Major Service No: 89506 Regiment: 3 Tank Battalion Scots Guards Theatre of Combat or Operation: North West Europe 1944-45 Award: Military Cross Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 21 December 1944 Date 1944 Catalogue reference WO 373/49 6 Guards Tank Brigade, 15 (s) Division, 8 Corps 3rd (Tank) Battalion, Scots Guards 89506 War Substantive Captain, Temporary Major William Stephen Ian Whitelaw, M.C. Major Whitelaw commanded 'S' Squadron, the left forward squadron, during the attack from Caumont to Point 226 on Sunday 30 July 1944. The course of the attack led for some 6,000 yards through country in which it was rarely possible to see more than 200 yards. The fields were small, surrounded by high banks with hedges on top. Nevertheless, major whitelaw kept perfect control and direction of his squadron throughout the whole of this long advance, in spite of minefield diversions and considerable resistance from enemy infantry and snipers. When ordered to push on with the utmost boldness to secure the objective before the effects of the barrage had passed, he speeded up the momentum of the attack in a remarkable manner and was successful in reaching the objective up to time. Some two hours later when a strong enemy armoured counter-attack developed from thickly wooded ground to the left rear, causing considerable tank casualties to his squadron in an extremely short time, he dealt with an very awkward situation with outstanding coolness, quickly reorganising the remainder and continuing the action, with the result that the enemy withdrew. Major Whitelaw's outstanding leadership and cool courage contributed greatly to the successful [one word obscured - possibly "capture"] and retention of an important objective. Awarded immediate military cross. London Gazette: 03/08/1944
6TH GUARDS ARMOURED DIVISION ; INVESTITURE Original wartime caption: Major W.S.I. Whitelaw, 3rd Tk. Scots Guards, receives the M.C. from the C-in-C. Creator: No. 5 Army Film and Photo Section, Army Film and Photographic Unit (Photographer), Seregant Morris (Undefined) Production date: 1945-06-12 Catalogue number: BU 7829
London Gazette : 8 November 1945 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37340/supplement/5434/data.pdf https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37340/supplement/5444/data.pdf
I have an interesting story about Lord Whitelaw. He was the commanding officer of my mothers cousin, NICHOLSON, LEONARD DODGSON, commemorated later in this thread. Leonard was a Churchill driver, and was killed during he attack on point 226 on 30/07/44. Leonard's mother would never accept he was dead, believing he was shell shocked and wandering around France. When his mother passed away, his sister Doris (who I knew as Aunty Doris-she was actually my Mums cousin) , contacted the then SIr William Whitelaw, to see if he he could provide any more information about what had happened to her brother. At he best she was expecting a letter, so she was shocked when Sir William's office contacted her to advise her he was willing to come to see her personally. Sir William subsequently came to her house and gave her a moving description of the action in which Leonard died. On discovering that there was no grave for him, Sir William put Doris in touch with the Scots Guards Association, who in turn arranged for a gravestone to be erected in Hottot Les Bagues war cemetery and paid for Doris & her husband to travel to Normandy for the dedication of the grave.