David MacMyn
Encyclopedia
Dr David James MacMyn TD, BA, MB, BCHIR was a rugby union
international who represented Scotland
from 1925 to 1928 later becoming president of the Scottish Rugby Union
. He also practiced as a surgeon.
the son of a doctor. He was educated at Kirkcudbright Academy, then Fettes College
from 1916 where he was assigned to Glencorse House. He then went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge
where his rugby ability developed at Fettes won him his blue as a fresher at Cambridge. He took the BA with honours in 1924 before studying medicine at King's College Hospital
, London.
in the Scotland
vs France
match.
Of the 11 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 10 occasions. In 1927, he was chosen to captain the British Isles
tour to Argentina which was won by four Tests to nil. He played his final match for Scotland on 2 January 1928 at Colombes in the France
vs Scotland
match. His club career had seen him play for London Scottish FC and King's College Hospital RFC
.
After his playing career he remained involved in rugby and from 1958 to 1959 served as President of the Scottish Rugby Union. For many years he was also a Scottish selector.
. He returned to London eighteen months later and having had difficulty in qualifying for the FRCS, he accepted a partnership in a West End general practice abandoning a career in neurosurgery. After his military career during and just after the Second World War he joined his father in his long-established general practice at Kirkcudbright.
for services in north-west Europe. He was ADMS to the 49th (WR) Division and so was with the occupation forces in Germany. Afterwards he served with the 3rd Division in Egypt and Palestine and in 1947 was demobilised with the rank of full colonel
.
. He never married.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who represented Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
from 1925 to 1928 later becoming president of the Scottish Rugby Union
Scottish Rugby Union
The Scottish Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Scotland. It is the second oldest Rugby Union, having been founded in 1873, as the Scottish Football Union.-History:...
. He also practiced as a surgeon.
Early life
David James MacMyn was born on 18 February 1903 at KirkcudbrightKirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright, is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, at the mouth of the River Dee, some six miles from the sea...
the son of a doctor. He was educated at Kirkcudbright Academy, then Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
from 1916 where he was assigned to Glencorse House. He then went up to Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
where his rugby ability developed at Fettes won him his blue as a fresher at Cambridge. He took the BA with honours in 1924 before studying medicine at King's College Hospital
King's College Hospital
King's College Hospital is an acute care facility in the London Borough of Lambeth, referred to locally and by staff simply as "King's" or abbreviated internally to "KCH"...
, London.
Rugby union career
MacMyn made his international debut on 24 January 1925 at InverleithInverleith
Inverleith is an inner suburb in the northern part of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. It is an affluent suburb. Its neighbours include Trinity to the north and the New Town to the south, with Canonmills at the south-east and Stockbridge at the south-west...
in the Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
vs France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
match.
Of the 11 matches he played for his national side he was on the winning side on 10 occasions. In 1927, he was chosen to captain the British Isles
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
tour to Argentina which was won by four Tests to nil. He played his final match for Scotland on 2 January 1928 at Colombes in the France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
vs Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
match. His club career had seen him play for London Scottish FC and King's College Hospital RFC
King's College Hospital RFC
Kings College Hospital RFC is an open rugby union club founded in the 19th century as a football club whose representatives were made up of medics from King's College Hospital. In its original form it was one of the twenty-one founding members of the Rugby Football Union, and produced a number of...
.
After his playing career he remained involved in rugby and from 1958 to 1959 served as President of the Scottish Rugby Union. For many years he was also a Scottish selector.
Medical career
In 1928 he graduated MB, BChir at King's College Hospital. In 1932 he obtained a Rockefeller Travelling Fellowship in surgery, and he studied neurosurgery at the Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group specializing in treating difficult patients . Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments. Mayo Clinic is known for being at the top of...
. He returned to London eighteen months later and having had difficulty in qualifying for the FRCS, he accepted a partnership in a West End general practice abandoning a career in neurosurgery. After his military career during and just after the Second World War he joined his father in his long-established general practice at Kirkcudbright.
Military career
MacMyn was in the Territorial Army and in 1928 became a Territorial RAMC officer. By September 1939 he had reached the rank of major and at the beginning of the Second World War was posted to a field ambulance in the 52nd (Lowland) Division, which he commanded soon afterwards. The division landed at St Malo and re-embarked at Cherbourg ten days later. The division then trained in Scotland for mountain warfare and in 1944 crossed the channel once more. David was mentioned in dispatchesMentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for services in north-west Europe. He was ADMS to the 49th (WR) Division and so was with the occupation forces in Germany. Afterwards he served with the 3rd Division in Egypt and Palestine and in 1947 was demobilised with the rank of full colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Personal and later life
MacMyn was known to enjoy a number of hobbies including golf, troutfishing, rereading the classics, and his garden, in which he grew roses that were much admired. He retired in 1965 and maintained an active lifestyle, enjoying golf and bridge. In addition, his association with rugby never waned and even after a slight stroke in December 1976 he accompanied a Scottish touring team to Japan in July 1977. Just a fortnight before his death he was at Murrayfield to watch the Calcutta CupCalcutta Cup
The Calcutta Cup is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of the annual Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland. It is currently England's since the 2009 Six Nations Championship....
. He never married.