LIEUT.-COLONEL DAVID MACLEOD, D.S.O., was a son of the late Mr William Macleod, Arnol, Barvas.
He enlisted in the Seaforth Highlanders before he was quite sixteen years of age. In 1895, volunteering for special service in connection with the organisation of the new Egyptian Army, he went out as one of the small band of Sergeant. -Instructors (of whom Lewis provided two), immortalised by Kipling in "Pharaoh and the Sergeant". The task of turning the spiritless Fellaheen into fighting soldiers was at the time deemed hopeless by many, but the British instructors proved themselves "a charm for making riflemen from mud."
With the young army thus created Lieut. -Col. Macleod served throughout Lord Kitchener's re-conquest of the Sudan. He was present at the Battle of Fisket (June, 1896), and served in the Nile Expeditions of 1897 and 1898. He fought in Sir Hector Macdonald's famous Brigade at the Battles of the Atbara and Omdurman. In admiration of the perfect steadiness and gallant conduct of the 2nd Egyptians (trained by Lt.- Colonel Macleod) at Omdurman, Stevens, in "With Kitchener to Khartoum," described them as "the best trained and disciplined battalion in the world."
During 1899 Lt.-Col. Macleod served on the White Nile and in Khordofan with the forces pursuing the Khalifa. For his services he was mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches, received the Khedive's Medal with 6 clasps, the Queen's Sudan Medal, medal for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, and, as a further reward, a commission in the Cameron Highlanders.
In the South African War he served continuously for over two years, seeing service in Cape Colony, the Free State, and the Transvaal, where he was wounded and again mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatches for Distinguished Conduct in the Field, at the same time receiving the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps. Towards the end of the war he joined the South African Constabulary, popularly known as Baden Powell's Police. When peace was declared he was made a District Commandant and a Justice of the Peace.
After two years with the South African Constabulary he volunteered for active service in Somaliland, and served four years with the King's African Rifles in Central Africa, British East Africa, and Uganda. During that period he took part in the Sotik Punitive Expedition, and served with the Nandi Field Force. He received the African General Service Medal with two clasps, and five years after receiving his commission was specially promoted to the rank of Captain in the Gordon Highlanders in recognition of his varied services in the field.
In 1907 he again accepted service in the Sudan, to organise and command the Camel Corps Training School at Khartoum ; and he saw service with the Camel Corps on the Blue Nile in 1908. After being stationed with his Battalion (2nd Gordons) for two years in India, he was appointed to the Depot in Aberdeen, and retired early in 1914, after twenty-seven years' service.
Later in the year, on war being "declared, he volunteered his services, and was appointed to the 8th Gordon Highlanders, with the rank of Major. He served in the field in France from the beginning of May until 25th September, 1915, when he was seriously wounded at the storming of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. For his "conspicuous gallantry and devotion" in this engagement he was given the Distinguished Service Order. "In the attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt," the official record states, "although wounded three times, he continued to lead his Company forward till he fell from exhaustion." After recovering, he was given a staff appointment in France, but he applied again for service in the firing line.
On 19th December, 1917, he died in hospital in France of pneumonia, brought on by shell gas. Lieut. -Col. Macleod owed his success to none of the accidents or advantages of birth or position, but to his sterling qualities of character and high ideals of work and duty and to his passionate love of his profession. He was a fine soldier, and a born leader of men, and though a stern disciplinarian, he was beloved by those serving under him, every man of whom would have followed him anywhere. He set a fine example of what he conceived to be his duty, and his high courage and earnestness of purpose—the outcome of his simple faith—gave him great influence over those with whom he lived and worked. He was singlarly modest and retiring, but to those to whom he gave his friendship he represented a high standard of life and service. The following official intimation of his death was issued on the field : —
"The Commanding Officer regrets to intimate the death on the 19th inst. of Lt.-Col. D. Macleod, D.S.O. —one of the finest officers in the Army—who for seventeen months has been in command of the Battalion. He desires to place on record his long and faithful services to his King and Country. Colonel Macleod joined the Army over 30 years ago, and during that time has served with distinction in many lands. His example in joining up again on the outbreak of war, immediately after a very severe illness, was typical of his patriotism and devotion to his life's calling. He was dangerously wounded at Loos, and rejoined the 8th Battalion in the spring of 1916 as Second-in-Command, and assumed Command of the in July of that year. His long service in tropical countries made service in the severe winters of this country very hard on him, but his indomitable spirit surmounted these hard tests, and now he has passed away at his post, like the true soldier he was. His high sense of duty ; his conception of the soldier's calling, will be an example to all and something to emulate. Always mindful of his men, his memory will be cherished by all who had the good fortune to serve under him."
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