P20413 Lieutenant-Colonel John Chiene MACKAY, OBE, MC, TD, 155 Field Ambulance, RAMC: POW

Personal Number: P20413
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Name: John Chiene MACKAY, OBE, MC, TD
Unit: 155 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps


London Gazette : 13 November 1914
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28973/page/9275/data.pdf
3rd Highland (Howitzer) Brigade; Gunner John Chiene MacKay, from the 4th High- land (Mountain Brigade), Royal Garrison Artillery, to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 14th November, 1914.

London Gazette : 24 November 1919
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31655/supplement/14291/data.pdf
MEMORANDA.
Lt. J. C. Mackay, M.C., R.H. & R.F.A., T.F., to bte actg. Capt. whilst empld. at a Remt. Depot, from 21st Jan. to 29th July 1919.

London Gazette : 21 June 1921
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32365/supplement/4979/data.pdf
The undermentioned relinquish their commissions: —
26 Apr. 1921.
Temp. Lt. John Chiene MacKay, M.C.

London Gazette : 11 October 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37302/supplement/4989/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following, appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the field:—
To be Additional Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —
Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John Chiene MACKAY, M.C., T.D. (20413), Royal Army Medical Corps (Berwick-on-Tweed) .


London Gazette : 20 December 1945
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37396/supplement/6187/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services while prisoners of war:—
To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:—
Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John Chiene MACKAY, M.C., T.D., M.B. (20413), Royal Army Medical Corps (Northumberland).

London Gazette : 27 June 1946
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37629/supplement/3272/data.pdf
ERRATA
No. 37396 dated 20th December, 1945.
Page 6187.
For Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John Chiene MACKAY, M.C., T.D., M.B. (20413), Royal Army Medical Corps.
Read Lieutenant-Colonel (temporary) John Chiene MACKAY, M.B.E., M.C., T.D., M.B. (20413), Royal Army Medical Corps.

 

Name: John Chiene Mackay . Date of Birth: 11/01/1895 . Place of Birth: Berwick on... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 416/237/421
Name: John Chiene Mackay.
Date of Birth: 11/01/1895.
Place of Birth: Berwick on Tweed.
Service: British Army.
Rank: Lieutenant.[Lieutenant-Colonel]
Regiment/Unit/Squadron: Royal Army Medical Corps.
Service Number: 20413.
Date of Capture: 12/06/1940.
Theatre of Capture: St. Valerie.
Camp Name/Number: Oflag VIIC Laufen.
PoW number: 1117.
Date of Death: [unspecified].
Number of Photographs: 3.
Number of Fingerprints: 1.
Number of X-rays: 0.
Number of Cards: 3.
Date: [1939-1945]

 

PART I.
GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR BRITISH/AMERICAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.

1. No. - P20413
RANK - LIEUT. COL.
SURNAME - MACKAY
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN CHIENE
DECORATIONS - M.C. T.D.

2. UNIT (ARMY) - 153 Fd Amb R.A.M.C.

3. DIVISION (ARMY) - 51st (HIGHLAND)

4. DATE OF BIRTH - 11/1/1895

5. DATE OF ENLISTMENT - 14/11/14

6. CIVILIAN TRADE OR PROFESSION - Medical Practitioner

7. PRIVATE ADDRESS - 44 CASTLEGATE, BERWICK-ON-TWEED

8. PLACE AND DATE OF ORIGINAL CAPTURE - St. Valery, FRANCE, 12 June 1940

9. WERE YOU WOUNDED WHEN CAPTURED? NO

10. MAIN CAMPS OR HOSPITALS IN WHICH IMPRISONED
Camp No. / Location / From / Till
OFLAG VII C Laufen Bavaria July 1940 - Jan 1941
STALAG XX A Thorn Poland Jan 1941 - Mar 1944
STALAG 357 Thorn Poland Mar 1944 - April 1944
OFLAG IX A/Z Rotenburg am Fulda April 1944 - Mar 1945


11. WERE YOU IN A WORKING CAMP?
Location / From/ Till / Nature of Work
AK 177 Stalag XXA Thorn April 1941 - Oct 1942


12. DID YOU SUFFER FROM ANY SERIOUS ILLNESSES WHILE A P/W?
Nature of Illness / Cause / Duration
Gastritis Diet 3 months

12 b. DID YOU RECEIVE ADEQUATE MEDICAL TREATMENT?
Yes


GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET

1. No. - P20413
RANK - LIEUT COL.
SURNAME - MACKAY
CHRISTIAN NAMES - JOHN CHIENE


2. LECTURES before Capture:
( a ) Were you lectured in your unit on how to behave the event of capture? (State where, when and by whom).
NO
( b ) Were you lectured on escape and evasion? (State where, when and by whom).
NO

3. INTERROGATION after capture:
Were you specially interrogated by the enemy? (State where, when and methods employed by enemy).
NO

4. ESCAPES attempted:
Did you make any attempted or partly successful escapes? (Give details of each attempt accurately, stating where, when, method employed, names of your companions, wherein when recaptured and by whom. Were you physically fit? What happened to your companions?)
NO

5. SABOTAGE
Did you do any sabotage or destruction of enemy factory plant, war material, communications, etc, when employed on working-parties or during escape? (Give details, places and dates.)
NO

6. COLLABORATION with enemy:
Do you know of any British or American personnel who collaborated with the enemy or in any way helped the enemy agains other Allied Prisoners of War? (Give details, names of persons concerned, camps, dates and nature of collaboration or help given to enemy).
No? Corporal Styles (Gloucester. Regt) living in Fort XVI, Stalag XXA, Thorn, Poland. Aug-Sept 1944. Was in possession of pass from German Authorities authorising unrestricted movement, was permitted to wear civilian clothes and carry pistol. Was apparently working on behalf of Germans agains Polish organisation helping P.O.W. to escape.


7. WAR CRIMES
If you have any information or evidence of bad treatment by the enemy to yourself or to others, or knowledge of any enemy violation of Geneva Convention you should ask for a copy of "Form Q" on which to make your statement.
(NOTE: Form Q is a separate form inviting information on "War Crimes" and describes the kind of offences coming under this title.)



GENERAL QUESTIONNAIRE PART II TOP SECRET
(continued)

8. Have you any other matter of any kind you wish to bring to notice?
Yes. While working as Senior British Officer (Medical) in O.R.s Camps, I had close contact with camp leaders and men of confidence and would desire to make recommendation for some recognition of good work performed by them, also by British M.O., on behalf of Prisoners of War.
I wish to recommend very strongly that some recognition of the services of the Man of Confidence in STALAG XX A Thorn
C.Q.M.S. R.E. GRANGER (QUEEN VICTORIA RIFLES) be accorded.
He was Man of Confidence from 1940 - 1944 during the period I was working as a Medical Officer and senior British Officers in this Stalag. His persistence, tact and firm handling of the many problems associated with his work and the manner in which he upheld the rights and welfare of the British P.O.W.s in the Stalag were of the greatest value in upholding the morale and also the prestige of the PsOW which in the Stalag was very high. From my close association with him and my special knowledge of his work, I would urge most strongly that his excellent work be recognised by an appropriate award.
I also recommend that the services to PsOW of Captain E. W. MACMILLAN, R.A.M.C. be also recognised. He was the first British Medical Officer to be posted to STALAG XXA in July 1940. He worked there as surgeon in the Stalag Hospital, first of all with Polish and later with French Medical Officers. Until my arrival in that hospital in Jan 1941 he had [OVER]
been the only British Medical Officer in the hospital. Not only had he performed his medical duties most effectively under difficult circumstances but also had maintained discipline and morale under great difficulties. He continued his work in the Hospital until April 1944 when he was transferred by the German Authorities to STALAG 357 owing to his persistent maintenance of the rights of conditions which should be afforded to sick British PsOW. He subsequently worked continuously as a Medical Officer in STALAG 357 and STALG IVD until his recapture on April 1945. He has a very fine record of service rendered to British and Allied PsOW over a continuous period of 4 years and 9 months and I have personal knowledge not only of that but also of his persistent firm attitude in dealing with the German Authorities.
JC MacKAY Lieut Col. R.A.M.C. 17 Apr 1945




SECURITY UNDERTAKING
I fully realise that all information relating the matters covered by the questions in Part II. are of a highly secret and official nature.

I have had explained to me and fully understand that under Defence Regulations or U.S.A.R. 380-5 I am forbidden to publish or communicate any information concerning these matters.

Date 17 April 1945
Signature JC MacKay Lieut. Col.

 

Recommendation for Award for Mackay, J C Rank: Lieutenant Colonel Service... | The National Archives
Reference: WO 373/87/280
Name Mackay, J C
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Service No: 20413
Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Services While Prisoners of War
Award: Order of the British Empire
Date of announcement in London Gazette: 20 December 1945

 

See also:

• 127201 Captain Evan William MACMILLAN, MBE, 133 Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps: POW

• 6607713 CQMS Reginald Eric GRANGER, BEM, MiD, Queen Victoria's Rifles, King's Royal Rifle Corps: POW