SIR Fitzroy Maclean, the Scots war hero and diplomat whose service made him the model for Ian Fleming's James Bond, has died.
Sir Fitzroy, 85, is said to have died suddenly from a heart attack on Saturday while visiting friends in Hertfordshire.
The diplomat and soldier will probably be best remembered for his achievements after parachuting into Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia as Prime Minister Winston Churchill's personal aide during the Second World War.
As Commander of the British Military Mission to Yugoslavia from 1943-45 he was told by Churchill: ``Your job is to find out who is killing the most Germans and how we can help them to kill more.''
After parachuting into Yugoslavia, he joined forces with Tito's Communist partisans who were waging a guerrilla war against the occupying German forces in the mountains.
Although better known for his dashing war service, Sir Fitzroy went on to become the Conservative MP for Bute and North Ayrshire from 1959 to 1974. He also wrote historical novels.
Politicians in Scotland last night paid tribute, agreeing he would be remembered as a ``truly great son of Scotland''.
Sir Fitzroy attended Eton and Cambridge before joining the diplomatic service.
At the outbreak of the Second World War he enlisted as a private in the Cameron Highlanders. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1941 and joined the Special Air Service regiment the following year with whom he made raids behind enemy lines in the Western Desert.
Sir Fitzroy was later parachuted into Yugoslavia where the link-up with partisan forces was highly successful and pinned down 30 enemy divisions.
He maintained a life-long friendship with colleagues from the partisan days and their families. He had been planning to visit the region later this year with a TV film crew.
David Stirling, the Scottish founder of the SAS, was a friend of Sir Fitzroy and is godfather to one of his sons. Sir Fitzroy also became friends with author Ian Fleming before the war and during the conflict their paths crossed.
He was elected as Conservative MP for Lancaster in 1941, while on active service, and served as Under Secretary for War from 1954 to 1957.
After serving as a Conservative MP for Bute and North Ayrshire from 1959 to 1974 he wrote historical
Continued on Page 2
Continued from Page 1
novels. His major publications were Eastern Approaches, Disputed Barricade, and the recent Highlanders: A History of the Highland Clans.
He was working on his memoirs when he died.
His wartime honours included the French Croix de Guerre, the Order of Kutusov, the Partisans' Star (First Class), and the order of the Yugoslav Star with Ribbon.
He was made a baronet in 1957, and was also made a Knight of the Thistle, Scotland's highest order of chivalry, in 1993.
However, the award closest to his heart was the Freedom of Argyll, which was conferred on him in March.
Sir Fitzroy travelled without permits through Central Asia during the 1930s leading the Soviets to assume he was a spy. However, he denied he was ever involved in espionage.
Yesterday his son Charles, 49, said: ``My father's passing was totally unexpected. He led a marvellous life, for which we will all remember him. He did not tolerate illness, so we should be glad that he went so suddenly.''
Shadow Scottish Secretary George Robertson said: ``Sir Fitzroy Maclean was one of the truly great Scots of recent times whose wisdom, character and bravery were legendary.
``His politics may have once been Conservative but his views were always progressive and his view of world events was enlightened and refreshing.''
Mrs Ray Michie, Liberal Democrat MP for Argyll and Bute, said: ``Sir Fitzroy was a man of integrity and dedication and will long be remembered in Argyll and Bute. We owe him a gratitude for his devoted service to this country and abroad.''
SNP chief executive Mike Russell said: ``Sir Fitzroy was a highly distinguished Scot with a remarkable war record. He was a true hero.''
Sir Fitzroy's funeral will be held later this week in Strachur, Argyll, his home for 40 years.
He is survived by his widow, Veronica, sister of another famous Scottish war hero, the late Lord Lovat, and his two sons Charles and Jamie.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article