Hugh Gordon Malcolm
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Hugh Gordon Malcolm VC
(2 May 1917 - 4 December 1942) was a Scottish
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
and Commonwealth
forces.
Born at Broughty Ferry
, Dundee
, Malcolm entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
on 9 January 1936. In January 1938 he joined 26 (Army Co-operation) squadron at Catterick
. In May 1939 he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander
crash. When the war started Malcolm was serving with No 17 Training Group. On 4 march 1941 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
and was Air Liaison officer on General Bernard Montgomery's general staff.
By the end of 1941 he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader
and joined No 18 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol Blenhiem based in Suffolk, UK.
During late 1942 in North Africa, Wing Commander Malcolm commanded No 18 Squadron, 326 Wing, flying the Bristol Blenheim
Mk. V light bomber. Throughout his service in that sector his skill and daring were of the highest order. He led two attacks on Bizerta airfield, pressing his attacks to effective conclusion.
On 17 November 1942, the Squadron were detailed to carry out an attack on Bizerta, taking advantage of low cloud cover. Twenty miles from the target the sky cleared, but despite the danger of continuing without a fighter escort, Malcolm decided to go ahead. Despite fierce opposition, the mission was a success with all bombs dropped within the airfield perimeter, and a Junkers Ju 52 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 were shot down, with other enemy aircraft damaged on the ground by machine-gun fire.
He was a 25 years old Wing Commander commanding 18 Squadron
, Royal Air Force
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 December he led an thirteen-strong attack on an enemy fighter airfield near Chougui, Tunisia
. On reaching the target, however, and starting the attack, the squadron was intercepted by an overwhelming force of enemy fighters from I and II. gruppen JG 53, and 11 Staffel, JG 2. One by one all his bombers were shot down, until he himself was shot down in flames.
Malcolm's aircraft crashed in flames some 15 miles west of the target. An infantry officer and two other men arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later retrieved the body of navigator Pilot Officer James Robb. Malcolm, with Robb and gunner Pilot Officer James Grant DFC, were buried in the Beja War Cemetery in a collective grave.
He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on April 27 1943.
His was the first Royal Air Force Victoria Cross to be won in North Africa and the famous Malcolm Clubs opened at many RAF stations are named in his honour.
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum
, London.
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Hugh Gordon Malcolm VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(2 May 1917 - 4 December 1942) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
Born at Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry
Broughty Ferry is a suburb on the eastern side of the City of Dundee, on the shore of the Firth of Tay in eastern Scotland...
, Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, Malcolm entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell
Royal Air Force College Cranwell
The Royal Air Force College is the Royal Air Force training and education academy which provides initial training to all RAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. The College also provides initial training to aircrew cadets and is responsible for all RAF recruiting along with...
on 9 January 1936. In January 1938 he joined 26 (Army Co-operation) squadron at Catterick
Catterick
Catterick could be*Catterick, North Yorkshire, England, commonly known as Catterick Village**Catterick Bridge, a hamlet near Catterick Village**Catterick Garrison, a British Army garrison near Catterick Village...
. In May 1939 he suffered a serious head injury in a Westland Lysander
Westland Lysander
The Westland Lysander was a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War...
crash. When the war started Malcolm was serving with No 17 Training Group. On 4 march 1941 he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant
Flight Lieutenant
Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
and was Air Liaison officer on General Bernard Montgomery's general staff.
By the end of 1941 he had risen to the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
and joined No 18 Squadron as a flight commander, flying the Bristol Blenhiem based in Suffolk, UK.
During late 1942 in North Africa, Wing Commander Malcolm commanded No 18 Squadron, 326 Wing, flying the Bristol Blenheim
Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. It was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter...
Mk. V light bomber. Throughout his service in that sector his skill and daring were of the highest order. He led two attacks on Bizerta airfield, pressing his attacks to effective conclusion.
On 17 November 1942, the Squadron were detailed to carry out an attack on Bizerta, taking advantage of low cloud cover. Twenty miles from the target the sky cleared, but despite the danger of continuing without a fighter escort, Malcolm decided to go ahead. Despite fierce opposition, the mission was a success with all bombs dropped within the airfield perimeter, and a Junkers Ju 52 and Messerschmitt Bf 109 were shot down, with other enemy aircraft damaged on the ground by machine-gun fire.
He was a 25 years old Wing Commander commanding 18 Squadron
No. 18 Squadron RAF
No. 18 Squadron of the Royal Air Force operates the CH-47 Chinook HC.2 from RAF Odiham. No. 18 Squadron was the first and is currently the largest RAF operator of the Chinook.-First World War:...
, Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 4 December he led an thirteen-strong attack on an enemy fighter airfield near Chougui, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. On reaching the target, however, and starting the attack, the squadron was intercepted by an overwhelming force of enemy fighters from I and II. gruppen JG 53, and 11 Staffel, JG 2. One by one all his bombers were shot down, until he himself was shot down in flames.
Malcolm's aircraft crashed in flames some 15 miles west of the target. An infantry officer and two other men arrived at the scene of the crash minutes later retrieved the body of navigator Pilot Officer James Robb. Malcolm, with Robb and gunner Pilot Officer James Grant DFC, were buried in the Beja War Cemetery in a collective grave.
He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on April 27 1943.
His was the first Royal Air Force Victoria Cross to be won in North Africa and the famous Malcolm Clubs opened at many RAF stations are named in his honour.
His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
, London.
External links
- CWGC entry
- Acting Wing Commander H.G. Malcolm in The Art of War exhibition at the UK National Archives