Denys Whitehorn Reid
| Denys Whitehorn Reid | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1897 |
| Died | 1970 (aged 72 or 73) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1947 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands held | 3rd Battalion, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry (1940–1941) Indian 29th Infantry Brigade (1941–1942) Indian 10th Infantry Division (1944–1947) |
| Battles/wars |
Ypres Somme Arras Passchendaele Spring Offensive East African Campaign Western Desert Campaign Italian Campaign |
| Awards |
CB (5 July 1945) CBE (9 September 1942) DSO (26 July 1918, 23 March 1941) MC (19 January 1916, 23 March 1918) Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander (USA) (19 November 1948) |
Denys Whitehorn Reid CB, CBE, DSO and Bar, MC and Bar (1897–1970) was an officer in the British Army and the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II. He was born in Dundee on 24 March 1897. His father was the Rev John Reid, minister of Ness Bank Church in Inverness and his mother was Clara Whitehorn, from London.
Reid joined the London Scottish in Oct 1914, and was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders in Jan 1915. He volunteered for early active service as a Trench Mortar officer, winning his first Military Cross at Ploegsteert Wood on 19 Jan 1916. The citation for this award reads:
Temporary Second Lieutenant Dennis Whitehorn Reid, 10th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany's), attached 30th Trench Mortar Battery.
For conspicuous gallantry when commanding his battery in an exposed position for four hours under very heavy fire. When one of his gun detachments was disabled, he worked the gun himself and successfully cut the enemy's wire.
He took part in the Somme offensive and was wounded at Thiepval on 7 July 1916. He rejoined the 7 Seaforth Highlanders as C Coy commander, seeing further action at Arras and Passchendaele, where he was wounded again on 12 Oct 1917. On 23 March 1918 he was awarded a bar to the Military Cross for a rearguard action across the Canal du Nord at Manancourt. The citation for this award reads:
T./Capt. Dennis Whitehorn Reid, M.C., Sea. Highrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. When ordered to cover the withdrawal he handled his company with the greatest skill and brought it back across a canal bridge in good order, in spite of a very heavy machine-gun fire.
Three weeks later he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for a strenuous attack at Wytschaete. The citation in the London Gazette reads:
T./Capt. Dennis Whitehorn Reid, M.C.,
Sea. Highrs.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company with great dash in the face of machine-gun fire, and on entering, the outskirts of a village captured singlehanded fourteen enemy, and assisted in the taking of five machine guns. On the following day he consolidated and held a position with a mixed body of troops, short of officers and N.C.O.'s. He always set an example of coolness and courage and was to the fore in all the actions in which his battalion took part.
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