Lieutenant E.R. Macaulay M.C.

At MLA on 9 July this officer's platoon was one of two committed to the attack at about midday. The enemy's position was extremely strong, and little headway was possible. Lt Macaulay hung on close to the enemy throughout the day, and late in the evening made one further gallant attempt to take the position in the hope that the enemy might be pulling out at dusk. The attempt failed within a few yards of the enemy trenches and Lt Macaulay did not withdraw until ordered to do so bringing away all his wounded.

On 13 July Lt Macaulay's platoon was again part of a force attacking a commanding ridge south of PYINDAW. This ridge was densely covered with undergrowth, the enemy impossible to see, and the advance could only be continued by crawling and cutting. Heavy casualties  soon occurred at point blank range. After some hours in this difficult position, there was a tendency for those individuals and sections, which could not see each other, to withdraw. However,
Lt Macaulay, by his fine example and control over his platoon, stuck to the ground he had won until late in the evening when he was told to withdraw a hundred yards to a line where his company dug in for the night. This position was overlooked from the ridge and continuously sniped and little rest was possible either by day or night. On 16 July his platoon again took part in an attack on the same ridge, which was in support of a wider movement round the right flank. All efforts to reach the top failed, and when ordered to withdraw Lt Macaulay withdrew his platoon in good order but remained behind himself with his African Sgt. in order to bring back his European Sgt. killed earlier in the attack, and the wounded, still lying out, which belonged to a neighbouring platoon. This he successfully accomplished. On the night of 17 July, Lieut. Macaulay's platoon was still occupying the same defended locality when it, and its neighbouring platoon, were heavily attacked in the middle of the night following a sharp and accurate mortar bombardment.

The men had undergone a great deal in adverse conditions during the last few days, and this strong surprise assault caused the platoon on the right to give way and two sections of his own platoon were driven out. However, at dawn it was found that Lt. Macaulay and two of his sections had still held their ground. This materially assisted in restoring the F.D.L. line at first sight.

Throughout the whole period, this officer's dogged determination to carry out his task to the uttermost was a fine example to tired troops at the end of a long campaign. He was suffering at the time from badly swollen legs due to septic poisoning.
 

[Top]