Regiment: R.M..
Died: 09 October 1944 aged 25 in Albania. Killed in action.
Cemetery: Tirana Park Memorial Cemetery
Son of Lt-Cdr. A. D. L. Macpherson, The Rabbits. Cottesbrooke, Northampton.
Ledbury Cap.
No. 40 R.M. Commando. Royal Marines
On the 24th September 1944, 40 Commando arrived from Monopoli in Italy to Sugar Beach near Sarande as part of 'Houndforce' which had orders to attack and capture the port of Sarande in Albania. The weather conditions were appalling with 2 weeks of torrential rain.
On the 4th October 1944, Captain MacPherson was in charge of a patrol which resulted in the successful attack of a German enemy patrol near Yoke beach.
On the 9th October 1944, Captain Macpherson was the officer commanding Q Troop which was ordered to attack Pt 261 just before Sarande. He was killed at 07.55. Sarande was subsequently captured that day.
Account of action by George Samuel Slim:
'On returning to 507, Q Troop were ordered to take 261 with one officer — Captain McPherson. We moved under the cover of darkness and attacked. We encountered bullets, tracer armour-piercing stick grenades. Our Captain was killed along with Marine St Ange, others were wounded.'
BBC People's War
40 Commando Unit war diary Oct 1944: ADM 202/87
Details and Map showing Sugar and Yoke Beach