Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
MACKIE, Lieut. William Gordon ... ... ... ... 5/West Riding
KEMMEL, 27th April, 1918. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This
officer personally reconnoitred under heavy machine-gun fire the whole front of
the battalion, which had been ordered to advance at short notice, without having
had an opportunity of examining the ground beforehand. When the flank was
threatened the reserve company of which he was in command was pushed into the
gap, and he made able dispositions of his platoons and Stokes and Vickers guns.
Under heavy fire he crawled forward and secured maps and papers from wounded and
dead enemy in front of our lines. Later, when fifty of the enemy endeavoured to
rush one of his posts, he turned a Lewis gun on them and accounted for them all.
He was severely wounded losing an eye while doing this but he did not desist
until the enemy was completely repulsed. His gallantry and initiative were
conspicuous throughout the day, during the whole of which he was under close
machine-gun fire.