Andrew Mackay (British Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Major-General Andrew Douglas Mackay CBE
is a former British Army
officer who commanded 2nd Division.
for three years before he was commissioned into the King's Own Scottish Borderers
in 1982. He served in Northern Ireland
as a company commander and worked on the strategic and operational planning in the Balkans
during the Bosnian War
. He was made Commanding Officer
of 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1998. He became Commander of 52nd Infantry Brigade in 2004 and commanded the Helmand Task Force in Afghanistan
from October 2007 in which role he led the successful assault on Musa Qala
in the north of Helmand in December 2007. He was appointed General Officer Commanding
2nd Division and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in May 2009 but resigned only a few months later in September 2009. He subsequently expressed an opinion in a paper delivered to the Defence Academy that the "Ministry of Defence was institutionally incapable of running a successful campaign in Afghanistan."
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is a former British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who commanded 2nd Division.
Military career
Mackay was an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong PoliceHong Kong Police Force
The Hong Kong Police Force is the largest disciplined service under the Security Bureau of Hong Kong. It is the world's second, and Asia's first, police agency to operate with a modern policing system. It was formed on 1 May 1844, with a strength of 32 officers...
for three years before he was commissioned into the King's Own Scottish Borderers
King's Own Scottish Borderers
The King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
in 1982. He served in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
as a company commander and worked on the strategic and operational planning in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. He was made Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers in 1998. He became Commander of 52nd Infantry Brigade in 2004 and commanded the Helmand Task Force in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
from October 2007 in which role he led the successful assault on Musa Qala
Battle of Musa Qala
The Battle of Musa Qala was a military action in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, launched by the Afghan National Army and the International Security Assistance Force against the Taliban on 7 December 2007. After three days of intense fighting, the Taliban retreated into the mountains on...
in the north of Helmand in December 2007. He was appointed General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
2nd Division and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in May 2009 but resigned only a few months later in September 2009. He subsequently expressed an opinion in a paper delivered to the Defence Academy that the "Ministry of Defence was institutionally incapable of running a successful campaign in Afghanistan."