Private Neil Macphee Royal Army Medical Corps
Neil Macphee
The Man Neil MacPhee was born on 18th May 1914 in Glasgow, son of Neil and Sarah Benson nee Macrae. Following school Neil became a metal worker and on 1st May 1939 aged 19 enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Medical Corps as a Private, Nursing Orderly with service number 7356538. He was described as 5’.9” tall weighing 155lbs with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His blood group was 2.A and religious denomination given as Salvation Army. Neil was a member of the RAMC Band playing the Bagpipes and following the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September 1939, was embodied, serving ‘at home’ and completing the following training. Water Hygiene Course in February 1941, Equipment Repairs Course in November 1942, certified competent to drive a War Department Ambulance in February 1943 and Instruction for Emergency Drivers December 1943. He embarked with the British Land Army on 1st September 1944 following D-Day in June of the same year and disembarked in France on 6th September. He saw active service in North West Europe and following the War was awarded the 1939-45 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal and War Medal 1939-45. He was also awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ with Queen Elizabeth obverse. It is not known if this was a late claim or that he re-joined the TA post war and served into the 1950s. Neil Married Pearlie Russell and they lived at 3 Charlton, Yorkshire. Neil died on 24th February 1995 aged 80 and at the time was living in Elton Hall Nursing Home in Cleveland.
1939-45 Star. France & Germany Star. Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Medal.
The Story The medal group awarded to Neil MacPhee were acquired from e-bay on 13th November 2016 and of interest because of the EIIR Efficiency Medal and the paperwork with the group. Oddly, little specific information could be found about Neil on Ancestry.UK, although there was a family tree from which a number of photographs were acquired. The picture of Neil in kilt and with bagpipes in particularly interesting as the drums show the badge of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
Neil MacPhee's World War II Identity Discs. 'Dog Tags'.
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Showing the RAMC symbol on the drums
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Private Neil MacPhee as a Piper in the Royal Army Medical Corps Band (Front row second from right)
Medal Details:
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as issued.
- France & Germany Star: Unnamed as issued.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as issued.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as issued
- Efficiency Medal: 7356538 PTE.N.MACPHEE. R.A.M.C.
This page last updated 6 Dec 16
