Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson

Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson: The Legendary Bluff



The annals of history overflow with great towering spirits, their courage and vision echoing ever onward into the future, and occasionally, it is these people’s ability to bluff their way to greatness that makes them a legend. One of history’s great bluffs was pulled off by Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson. It’s not surprising if you haven’t heard of him before. He lived in a time of heroes and heroic deeds but, by the time you’ve finished this article we’d be surprised if you ever forget him.

Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson’s Early Life

Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson was born in October in the year 1920. He was born into a family of high standing. His mother was the daughter of a preacher man (the Reverend Archibald Borland Cameron to be exact) and his father had served in the Indian Civil Service, then became a judge of the High Court and finally the chancellor of Patna University. Growing up Tommy Macpherson was a natural athlete. According to The Telegraph, “Tommy won a scholarship to Fettes where he was an outstanding athlete, winning the half mile and taking eight seconds off the school record for the mile. He subsequently gained the top scholarship to Trinity College, Oxford, in Classics but the outbreak of war intervened and, in September 1939, he was commissioned into the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.” This was his departure from boyhood and begins his journey to a legend.

First Missions

Soon after he had been commissioned and he and his commandos began intensive training. In 1941 they had their first operation in Suez. Their mission was to unload tons of sandbags destined for use by the 8th army. [A bit of a side note there had to be one hell of a hustler to sell sandbags to be shipped to the desert]. Three months later Tommy Macpherson and his commandos were given the mission to capture and hold an important bridge in Palestine. The bridge they were to take was named Kafr Badda. They accomplished their mission but suffered heavy casualties due to the Allied assault being put off for a day. He was then relocated to Cyprus and was given the post of military governor of the northeast portion of the island due to this knowledge of the Greek language. He also received a promotion to Captain.

Operation Flipper

The next mission would lead to the first time he was captured. His mission was to do reconnaissance on a beach to prepare for an attack on Field Marshal Rommel’s headquarters in what is now known as Libya. He and three of his commandos were brought by submarine and given folbots (essentially fold able kayaks). After doing what they needed to do they returned to the ocean to meet up with the submarine. The group of commandoes waited for two nights until one of the folbots sprung a leak. They returned to shore hoping to go back out once more but the weather wouldn’t let them.

Upon debating their options the group decided to walk to the nearest safe location despite not having a map, compass, food or water. they split up and two of the group were captured by Italian troops. Along the way Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson and his partner decided to sabotage a communications exchange; it turned out to be a bad idea. The pair were quickly apprehended and taken into custody. During their interrogation an Italian soldier gave Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson an unloaded pistol and asked him how it worked. Sir Macpherson pulled out a hidden clip and held them all at gunpoint. Before he could escape, he had “cramps from hell” and they arrested him once again.

From there he was transferred from POW camp to POW camp nearly escaping each time but was caught just before he could slip away. Finally he caught a break by trading clothes with French workers and escaping the camp. He was apprehended once again and sent to a Gestapo camp. He and three others escaped and began the long perilous journey home.

The following is an excerpt from his obituary written by The Telegraph describing his trek back to freedom

“They were picked up by the Polish Resistance and taken to a factory at Bydgoszcz. The nightwatchman hid them in the manager’s office but, after an air-raid warning sounded, the manager arrived and they were lucky to escape detection.

The group took a train to Danzig, aiming to board a Swedish vessel. When one of the German security police came and sat in their compartment, they decided to get out at the next stop. No ships could sail from the bombed port of Danzig, so they hid in a lorry as far as Gdynia.

Macpherson and his comrades concealed themselves in a house near the docks for several days before they were smuggled aboard a Swedish ship carrying iron ore. When customs officials arrived to search the ship, Macpherson did his best to look nonchalant by leaning over the ship’s rail and munching on a sandwich. One of the group, however, lost his nerve and gave himself up to the captain.

Macpherson and two comrades climbed down into the hold and tunnelled a hiding place in the iron ore. When the ship reached the limit of territorial waters, a launch came alongside and German soldiers with dogs came aboard. The hatches were lifted and the dogs were sent down into the hold, but the coal dust proved too much for them and they had to be brought out.

As soon as they were in international waters, Macpherson and his comrades gave themselves up to the Swedes. The ship was diverted to Gotland, where the men were incarcerated for a spell, before going on to Stockholm where they were released to the British Embassy.” (Source)

Soon after his return to England he was awarded the Military Cross for his daring escape back to freedom. Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson recieved a new mission.

Only days after his return home Sir Macpherson entered back into the folds of war. His new assignment, Operation Jedburgh Operation Jedburgh consisted of missions for bad ass commandos meant to disrupt enemy movement and communications behind enemy lines. Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson entered Europe being dropped behind enemy lines with the very first groups of commandoes. He was also wearing a kilt causing some confusion among the resistance groups he was working with. At first many of them apparently thought he was a French officers wife. Little did they know how bad ass this kilt wearing man was.

During his time behind enemy lines he took part in an innumerable amount of sabotage missions. From destroying bridges, laying mines, orchestrating ambushes and leading large groups of guerrillas in coordinated attacks on the enemies. Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson also gained two bars on his Military cross for the operations he took place in.

Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson became known as a man with a bit of flair while in the backwaters of France. He would be driven around in a lovely black Citroën complete with the Union Flag pennant on one side and of course a Croix de Lorraine on the other. He became such a pain in the ass for the Nazi’s that they places a 300,000 franc bounty on his head. Sir Macpherson escaped even when traitors had joined the resistance for the sole purpose of capturing or killing him. There was even on incident when people carved a giant arrow in the snow pointing to the direction in which Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson was hiding.

Legendary Bluff

Finally we arrive at his most heralded adventure. An act so bold that you can’t help but wonder if he was just an insane Scottsman or just a brilliant poker player in the game of life. After capturing a German Red Cross van he-along with two others-made their way through enemy territory to a schoolhouse where Major General Botho Henning Elster was staying. He exited the vehicle unarmed wearing all his Highlander regalia and gave one of the greatest bluffs human kind has ever seen. He told the Major General to surrender or he (Tommy Macpherson) would unleash a typhoon of steel to crush him and then call in the RAF to clean up the remainder. The Major General agreed to surrender as long as his soldiers could carry their sidearm until taken into custody. All in all 23,000 men surrendered, including part of a Panzer division.

Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson would go on to do even more before the war ended. His military career concluded with him becoming one of the most highly decorated military men in all of history. After World War 2 he continued his military service to eventually being knighted and appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He then went on to become a rather successful businessman. He passed on November 6, 2014 at the age of 94.



For more detailed information please check out the links below or read Sir Thomas “Tommy” Macpherson’s autobiography “Behind Enemy Lines.” (check your library before buying!). If you enjoyed this post check out our other ARTICLES and our PODCAST. If you really LOVED us consider help SUPPORTING US (even an advert click helps!) Thanks for your time. Onward!

For more detailed information on this bad ass click the book below

Behind Enemy Lines

