!MENTION: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE
MACLEODS--THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section II, Edinburgh, The Clan
MacLeod Society, 1968, pp. 43-45.
Born on 3rd September 1885 in Colombo, Ceylon, and educated at
Edinburgh Academy, St. Paul''s School, London, and the R.M.A. Woolwich.
He was commissioned on 22nd July 1906 in the Royal Field Artillery and
served with the 59th Battery, R.F.A. in England, South Africa and India
until 1912; thereafter with "X" and "Y" Batteries, R.H.A. in Mhow, and he
commanded the "E" Ammunition Column, 5th Cavalry Brigade in that
station. It is interesting to note that a former Commander of "E"
Ammunition Column was Captain Oates, the gallant member of the
ill-starred Captain Falcon Scott''s Antarctic Expedition, who gave his
life in the vain hope of saving the lives of his companions. When the
First World War broke out, Brigadier Norman M. McLeod was home on
leave from India and was posted to "K" Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
with the 7th Cavalry Brigade, consisting of Resrve Regiments of the
Household Cavalry, in which the Duke of Kent commanded the 1st Life
Guards and Prince Alexander was a Major in the Royal Horse Guards.
After training on Salisbury Plain the Brigade, headed by "K" Battery,
R.H.A., marched past His Majesty, King George V. on Windmill Hill. It was
an unforgetable sight! The Regiments were magnificently horsed, largely
from Hunt Stables all over the country. The 7th Calvary Brigade in the
3rd Cavalry Division (under Major General Byng) landed at Ostend and
Zeebrugge and soon became engaged in the preliminary fighting at
Moislede and Passchaendale, before the first Battle of Ypres. Brigadier
Norman M. McLeod''s section of "K" Battery can claim to have fired the
first shot in the battle of Moislede. In the First Battle of Ypres, the line
was saved on more than one occasion by the 7th Cavalry Brigade at the
cost of very heavy casualties. On promotion to Captain, Norman M.
McLeod joined the 49th Battery, R.F.A., in the 3rd Division. From
September 1915 to March 1917, he commanded Brigade Batteries in the
21st Division, acting as Brigade Major, R.A., during the month prior to
the opening of the battle of the Somme. It was in the preparation of the
Artillery programmes for the opening phase of that battle, that he
arranged the first 18-pounder "Creeping Barrage". He commanded D/96
Battery, R.F.A., during the whole Somme fighting and was awarded the
Military Cross for action on Fricourt Hill on 3rd July 1916. In the attack
on the Hindenburg Line in March 1917, he commanded A/94 Battery, R.F.A.
Thereafter, he became Brigade Major, R.A. 25th Division. In March 1919,
he was appointed to the General Staff in the Directorate of Staff Duties
at the War Office. He received the D.S.O. on 1st January 1918 and was
gazetted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1919 to take effect after
fifteen years'' service. He was mentioned four times in despatches. In
March 1921, he went to India as Staff Officer, R.A., Souther Command,
returning to England in 1925 for the Gunnery Staff Course, after which
he commanded the 65th Battery R.F.A. at Exeter. In August 1927, he
returned to the War Office in the Directorate of Artillery. After four
years in the War Office, he commanded batteries in Edinburgh and Dunbar.
In 1934, he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Officer
commanding British Troops and C.R.A. at Aden. Two years later, he was
promoted Colonel (with seniority July 1921) and was recalled to
organise and command the 29th (East Anglia) Anti Aircraft Group of the
1st A.A. Division with the rank of Brigadier. He commanded the 1st A.A.
Division for six months in 1938, pending the appointment of Major
General Sir Frederick Pile. In 1937, he had the honour of being appointed
Aide de Camp to King George VI. After 32 years'' service, Brigadier
Norman M. McLeod retired on the 6th January 1939 with the Honorary
rank of Brigadier. During the Second World War, Brigadier MacLeod
organised and trained the Home Guard of the "G.N." Zone (8th, 9th and
10th County of London Battalons) of the London District Home Guard, and
later commanded "D.N." Sector (4th, 9th and 10th Battalions) of the
London Home Guard Defences. His last post in 1944-45 was that of
Officer of the Watch in the Ministry of Home Security War Room. During
the whole war, Brigadier McLeod and his wife were in London and
escaped unhurt but lost much property. They are now living in Monimail
in Fife. Brigadier McLeod married on 20th April 1912 at Durban, Irma H.
Lamphier, youngest daughter of Horace J. Portal of Durban and
Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and his wife Mary L. Anderson, with issue.