Donald McPhail Livingstone

Donald joined the Highland Light Infantry at Auchengate, their training base, on 15 Aug 1940. It seems a short while later he transferred to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was posted to Coleshill House, on 16 April 1941, though he joins a Scout Section at some point. This is unclear from his service record. He was admitted to Shrivenham Medical Reception Centre between 30 Jan and 3 Feb 1942, indicating he had been at Coleshill prior to this. It is possible that he was a member of the training staff at Coleshill. His record entries are signed by Camp Commandants Capt ARC Anderson and Capt M Wickham- Boynton at Coleshill, which supports this idea.

On 15 Dec 1942 he is attached to 71 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery for pay, rations and discipline at Glass, indicating a posting to Blairmore House. A small note in his record states “Scout Section”, so he presumably joined the section known to be based here. On 21 Jan 1943, the attachment changed to 66 Medium Regiment as 71 Medium Regiment was being disbanded. This changed again on 7 Jun 1943 to 157 Infantry Brigade, Workshop Company, REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). His final attachment was to HQ Aberdeen sub district on 7 Dec 1943. These are administrative only attachments and he remained with the Scout Section at Blairmore House.
 
He was officially posted to the SAS on 1 Apr 1944, though he almost certainly joined with other Scout Section members in February 1944. The men were posted to the Army Air Corps on 1 Apr 1944, the date the SAS as a whole joined the Corps. Reportedly he joined as a number of other of his pals were also joining. Most probably these were other Scout Section members.

He was dropped into France on 11 Jun 1944 as part of Operation Bulbasket. He was captured when their camp was surrounded and was executed with his fellow prisoners. He had spoken to family before he left telling them that he didn't expect to return. He is buried at Rom Communal Cemetery in France alongside his fallen comrades.

British Army Casualty Lists report on 4 Jul 1944 he had previously reported missing believed to be a prisoner of war but was now reported not missing. He was reported killed in action on or shortly after 7 Jul 1944.