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Brig. Dougal Campbell McPherson MBE, MID.
British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
from:Barton Regis, Gloucester
My grandfather, Dougal McPherson, joined RAOC in the First World War as an engineer serving in the BEF in France where he was mentioned in despatches.
Working between the wars as an engineer/Ports & Lighthouses Alexandria, where my father was born, he later went to work as a mining engineer in Brazil (gold extraction) Morro Velho. After the sudden early death of my grandmother leaving my grandfather with three very young children, the house was sold in Brazil and he came back to the UK. A chance encounter, recalled by my godfather Brigadier Douglas Henchley (later serving in REME under my grandfather), in Whitehall with a former RAOC colleague called my grandfather back into service. The aim: the foundations of the new Corps, REME. He rejoined the Army in 1936 as a Major.
He served in France at the outbreak of war in 1939 at HQ Division returning, with promotion to Lt Colonel, in the 8th Corps in March '40 and as Colonel in August 1940. He was posted to HQ Western Command as DDOS (E) at Chester in June '41. Moving later, promoted to Brigadier, in 1941 he became the first DDMO at the War Office, REME Directorate and later moved through Germany in action at the close of the War.
Taken from The War Office, ME Directorate (G O Bell 1942) when my grandfather was serving as the first DDMO: "Brigadier D C McPherson came in from Western Command to head (Org) and to become the first (Ops) - and he remained in post until the end of General Rowcroft's tour of duty. "Mac" was a quiet, unassuming man who served Mass at Westminster Cathedral every morning at 6 a.m. before coming in to the Office. Always approachable, always helpful, he did an excellent job on the foundations so ably laid by his predecessor..."
