The Olympians of The Argylls

This summer saw the excitement of the 2024 Olympic Games, bringing together athletes from across the world. But did you know that the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have had Olympians amongst their own ranks? This blog takes a look at three talented members of the Regiment who competed in the Olympics: Henry Maitland Macintosh in 1912, Bevil Gordon D’Urban Rudd in 1920, and John MacMillan in 1952.

Henry Maitland Macintosh

Henry Macintosh was born in 1892 in a small town named Kelso near the Scottish border and was the son of Rev. William Macintosh and Annie Smith Macintosh. Henry was a talented track and field athlete and first saw success at his school, Glenalmond College, where he won the boys athletic challenge cup three years in a row. At Cambridge University, Henry continued sprinting and represented the university in the English Amateur Athletic Association Championships.

Mcintosh was selected for the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm and competed in the 100 and 200 metre sprints. He also competed in the 4×100 metre relay where he won gold. After the Olympics, Mcintosh returned to Cambridge and was made president of the Cambridge Athletics Club in 1913. He ran several personal bests in his time, for instance, he clocked 9.8 seconds in the 100-metre sprint, and the world record now sits at 9.5 seconds by Usain Bolt.

In 1914, Macintosh moved to South Africa to become an Assistant District Commissioner but returned to Scotland a few months later following the outbreak of World War One. He was first commissioned to the 13^th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He became a 2^nd Lieutenant in February 1915 and a Captain by March 1916. He arrived in France on the 24^th of April 1918 but was sent to the hospital only three days later. On the 10^th of June 1918, Macintosh returned to France but was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Somme. Henry Macintosh died of his wounds on the 26^th of July 1918 at the age of only 26 years. At the time of his death, his two brothers were both prisoners of war in Germany.

To see Macintosh’s Commonwealth Grave Record, follow this link: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/287179/henry-maitland-macintosh/

Bevil Gordon D’Urban Rudd

Bevil Rudd was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 5^th of October 1894. Rudd attended St Andrews College in Grahamstown, South Africa, where he earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Trinity College, Oxford. In October 1915, Rudd joined the 10^th Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Later in the war, Rudd was transferred to the Tank Corps, and it was here that he won a Military Cross medal for bravery.

Whilst studying at Oxford University in 1920, Rudd became the first South African to win a full set of Olympic medals. In the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, Rudd won a gold medal in the 400-metres, a silver medal 4×400 metre relay, and a bronze medal in the 800-metre. The same year, Rudd also won 440 yards and the 880 yards title at the British AAA Championships and was named as the British Athlete of the Year.

You can watch Rudd winning his Olympic gold medal here: https://olympics.com/en/video/rudd-bevil-1920s After completing his studies, Rudd returned to South Africa where he became a sports journalist. He married Ursula Mary Knight in Cape Town in 1926 and had two sons. In 1930, Rudd became an editor for The Daily Telegraph and remained in this position throughout the Second World War. On the 2^nd of February 1948, Rudd passed away in Kimberley, Northern Cape

John Richard Alexander MacMillan

John MacMillan was born on the 8^th of February 1932 in London and is the son of Caption (later General Sir) Gordon MacMillan and Marion Blakiston-Houston. Whilst studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, MacMillan was a member of the Cambridge University Boat Club and in 1951 he won the Colquhoun Sculls by beating his future Olympic partner, Peter Brandt. MacMillan was selected for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and competed in the men’s double sculls event alongside Brandt. Unfortunately, the pair did not win a medal.

John MacMillan joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1953 which was the start of a long and distinguished military career. MacMillan was appointed Commanding Officer 1^st Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders in 1971, and the Commander of 39^th Infantry Brigade in 1977. MacMillan was then given Colonelcy of the Gordon Highlanders from 1978 to 1986. MacMillan was honoured with an OBE in 1973, a CBE in 1978, and was knighted in 1988. He held the offices of Governor of Edinburgh Castle from 1988 until he retired in 1991.

In the above photograph, MacMillan is standing on the left next to his father Captain Gordon MacMillan. The photograph was used in an article entitled “Two Generations” and at the time of the photo, MacMillan would have been finishing his basic training. It was taken in the year after he competed in The Olympics. He was then commissioned as an Officer later the same year to the regiment.

Do you know of any sporting figures who were also part of the Regiment? Let us know, we have a record of sportspeople in our archives and would like to add them to it.

Written by Caitlin Stewart, Digital Content Volunteer