Cameronians

A surprise find in a surplus store…

A surprise find in a surplus store…

This officers mess jacket and waistcoat belonged to Colonel Thomas Alexander Irvine DSO TD. The uniform was only recently donated to the Museum after it was discovered for sale in an army surplus store in Lanark. Robert Paton, husband of our Collections Manager, Sharon, had been in the surplus store looking for an army greatcoat for a Halloween costume. Robert noticed the uniform (along with matching trews) in the store and on speaking with the owner they discovered Colonel Irvine’s name on the label. Following the discovery, the store owners very kindly offered to donate the uniform to the museum collection.

Colonel Irvine, then a Captain, from a group photograph of regimental officers, 1939.

Colonel Irvine, originally from Motherwell, had been living in Symington at the time of his death in 1963. He had attended Hamilton Academy, after which he entered his family’s iron and steel business. Irvine joined the 6th Cameronians as a second lieutenant in 1932. In the early years of the Second World War he was second-in-command of 10th Cameronians, and ultimately commanded the 7th Worcestershire Regiment in Burma. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in action against the Japanese at the Irrawaddy River in late February 1945. After the War, Colonel Irvine commanded the 6th Cameronians, and was later Commandant of the Lanarkshire County Cadet Force and Chairman of the Territorial Army and Air Force Association in Lanarkshire. Colonel Irvine had been heavily involved in all aspects of regimental life for most of his adult life.

Colonel T. A. Irvine’s medals: left to right – Distinguished Service Order (DSO), 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, 1939-45 Star, Territorial Efficiency Decoration (TD) with second award clasp.

Colonel Irvine’s uniform has been temporarily displayed in Low Parks Museum, along with his medal group which was already in the museum collection.

The citation for Colonel Irvine’s Distinguished Service Order is worth repeating in full. Originally recommended for the Military Cross (MC), this was upgraded to the DSO by the General Officer Commanding 33rd Indian Corps, Lieutenant-General Montagu Stopford GCB, KBE, DSO, MC.

“This officer commanded 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment during the successful establishment of a bridgehead across the Irrawaddy River in the Myittha area on 24/25 Feb ‘45 and during the capture of Ngazun on 26 Feb ‘45.

7th Worcestershire Regiment were ordered to cross West of Myittha during the night 24/25 Feb ‘45, Lt. Col. Irvine led the first flight of his Battalion which met a withering fire, resulting in the majority of boats being sunk. Lt. Col. Irvine’s boat was sunk and he had to swim 400 yards back to the shore. Although practically exhausted, he immediately rallied his whole Battalion and reported to the Brigade Commander for further orders.

On the morning of 26 Feb ‘45, 7th Worcestershire Regiment crossed into the bridgehead previously established by 1st Camerons and were ordered to attack Ngazun in conjunction with 2nd Dorset Regiment.

Lt. Col. Irvine had little time to organise this attack, but he managed to do so in a masterly way. The attack was brilliantly successful. The Battalion, in spite of the set back of the previous night, went into the attack with superb determination, swept through the town, killed many enemy and finally consolidated for the night.

This fine achievement was due almost entirely to Lt. Col. Irvine’s inspired leadership and power of command.”

We are very pleased to have been able to add this fine uniform to a local officer to the museum collection, and would like to thank the owners of Fishing and Survival in Lanark for their generosity in gifting it to us.

Comments: 2

Posted: 06/06/2022 by BarrieDuncan in Collections, News in General, Second World War


2 responses to “A surprise find in a surplus store…”

  1. Philip Grant says:

    It would appear that the badges of rank are those of a lieutenant colonel. The matching trews referred to, if the correct ones for mess dress, will be what are called ‘strapped’ trews. They are high-waisted to fit properly under the waist coat, and shaped to the leg with straps to go under the instep of the mess (patent leather) Wellington boots. As a field officer he would also have worn spurs. It would be nice if the museum also has his miniature medals which would invariably have been worn with his mess dress.

  2. Barrie Duncan says:

    You are quite right, Philip, the rank badges are that of a Lieutenant Colonel. Interestingly, the shoulder straps show evidence that at one point they did sport three separate badges each, presumably from when Irvine was a captain rather than a full Colonel. Frustratingly, I can’t find the date of his promotion to full Colonel in the London Gazette, yet by 1952 he is referred to as Colonel rather than Lt-Colonel. Is it possible he was granted the temporary title of Colonel while serving as Commandant of the Lanarkshire County Cadet Force? As for the trews, you are spot on! Fortunately we do also have the miniature medals in the collection – these are also on display in the museum.

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