There can be few, if any, better examples of self-sacrifice in the air than the noble actions of Wing Commander Hugh Malcolm. Such outstanding bravery aimed at saving lives of infantry on the ground was recognised with the reward of a posthumous VC. I am immensely proud to be the custodian of this courageous and selfless man’s gallantry and service medals, having purchased them at auction in 2010.
Hugh Gordon Malcolm was born in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, on May 2, 1917. He was the son of Kenneth Malcolm, a Dundee jute merchant, and his wife Marjorie (née Smith). He was educated at Craigflower Preparatory School, Dunfermline, and Trinity College, Glenalmond, Perthshire. As a young man, Malcolm was shy and quiet, but he was sporty and excelled at golf and hunting. After completing his schooling, he entered RAF College Cranwell, Lincolnshire, as a cadet in January 1936, where he graduated as a commissioned pilot in December 1937. The following month, Malcolm was posted to 26 Squadron, based at RAF Catterick, in Yorkshire.
On May 20, 1939 he was piloting Westland Lysander I L4784 in practice flight for a forthcoming Empire Air Day display when he was involved in a major accident that wrote off the aircraft.
