John Kenneth Macalister
Encyclopedia
John Kenneth Macalister was a Canadian hero of World War II
.
Ken Macalister graduated the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
(GCVI) and from the University of Toronto
, then as a Rhodes Scholar studied at Oxford University. He was expanding his education further at the Institute of Corporate Law in Paris, France when World War II began in 1939. When he took the bar exam, Macalister placed first among over 150 candidates in the British Empire. Macalister tried to join the infantry but his eyesight was such that he needed thick glasses and as such could not be placed on active duty. However, fluent in the French language
, Macalister volunteered for the Special Operations Executive
(SOE) F Section where as an agent in France, his thick glasses would actually add to his disguise.
Together with fellow Canadian, Frank Pickersgill
, Ken Macalister was parachuted into occupied France on June 20, 1943 to work as wireless operator for the "Archdeacon" network in the Ardennes
area. They were met by agent Yvonne Rudellat, but were stopped by the Gestapo
who had been tipped by an informer. Some believe that the Germans recognized him as an agent by virtue of his rather poor French accent. Although they tried to get away, shots were fired and Rudellat was hit causing the car to crash. They were taken to Fresnes prison
where they were interrogated and tortured repeatedly. Macalister steadfastly refused to reveal his security checks to the Germans who had his codes and were anxious to send misleading messages back to the SOE
's London headquarters. Macalister gave his interrogators nothing and when his captors tried to send messages, SOE recognized them as fake.
Unable to get anything of value from him, the security forces shipped Macalister, along with Frank Pickersgill
and Roméo Sabourin
to Buchenwald concentration camp on August 27, 1944. They were known as the Robert Benoist
group, executed at Buchenwald on September 14, 1944.
Captain Ken Macalister is honored on the Brookwood Memorial
, Surrey in Brookwood, Surrey
, England
and as one of the SOE agents who died for the liberation of France
, he is listed on the "Roll of Honor" on the Valençay SOE Memorial
in the town of Valençay
, in the Indre
département of France. In Guelph, there’s a park named after him with a maple tree representing his time in Canada, an oak his British sojourn, and a linden his time in France. The University of Toronto has designated a Pickersgill-Macalister garden on the west side of the "Soldiers' Tower" monument.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Ken Macalister graduated the Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
The Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute is a public high school located in the city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada...
(GCVI) and from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, then as a Rhodes Scholar studied at Oxford University. He was expanding his education further at the Institute of Corporate Law in Paris, France when World War II began in 1939. When he took the bar exam, Macalister placed first among over 150 candidates in the British Empire. Macalister tried to join the infantry but his eyesight was such that he needed thick glasses and as such could not be placed on active duty. However, fluent in the French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, Macalister volunteered for the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE) F Section where as an agent in France, his thick glasses would actually add to his disguise.
Together with fellow Canadian, Frank Pickersgill
Frank Pickersgill
Frank Herbert Dedrick Pickersgill is a Canadian hero of World War II....
, Ken Macalister was parachuted into occupied France on June 20, 1943 to work as wireless operator for the "Archdeacon" network in the Ardennes
Ardennes
The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
area. They were met by agent Yvonne Rudellat, but were stopped by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
who had been tipped by an informer. Some believe that the Germans recognized him as an agent by virtue of his rather poor French accent. Although they tried to get away, shots were fired and Rudellat was hit causing the car to crash. They were taken to Fresnes prison
Fresnes Prison
Fresnes Prison is the second largest prison in France, located in the town of Fresnes, Val-de-Marne South of Paris...
where they were interrogated and tortured repeatedly. Macalister steadfastly refused to reveal his security checks to the Germans who had his codes and were anxious to send misleading messages back to the SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
's London headquarters. Macalister gave his interrogators nothing and when his captors tried to send messages, SOE recognized them as fake.
Unable to get anything of value from him, the security forces shipped Macalister, along with Frank Pickersgill
Frank Pickersgill
Frank Herbert Dedrick Pickersgill is a Canadian hero of World War II....
and Roméo Sabourin
Roméo Sabourin
Roméo Sabourin is a Canadian hero of World War II.Lieutenant Sabourin joined the Canadian Army, serving in the Canadian Intelligence Corps...
to Buchenwald concentration camp on August 27, 1944. They were known as the Robert Benoist
Robert Benoist
Robert Marcel Charles Benoist was a French Grand Prix motor racing driver and war hero.-Early life:Born near Rambouillet, Île-de-France, France, Robert Benoist was the son of Baron Henri de Rothschild's gamekeeper...
group, executed at Buchenwald on September 14, 1944.
Captain Ken Macalister is honored on the Brookwood Memorial
Brookwood Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery is a burial ground in Brookwood, Surrey, England. It is the largest cemetery in the United Kingdom and one of the largest in western Europe.-History:...
, Surrey in Brookwood, Surrey
Brookwood, Surrey
Brookwood is a village in Surrey, located about 5 km west of Woking, in a semi-rural location. It lies on the western border of the Woking Borough ....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and as one of the SOE agents who died for the liberation of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, he is listed on the "Roll of Honor" on the Valençay SOE Memorial
Valençay SOE Memorial
The Valençay SOE Memorial is a monument to the members of the Special Operations Executive F Section who lost their lives for the liberation of France. The memorial was unveiled in the town of Valençay in the Indre département of France on May 6, 1991, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the...
in the town of Valençay
Valençay
Valençay is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-Geography:Valençay is situated in the Loire Valley on a hillside overlooking the River Nahon.-History:...
, in the Indre
Indre
Indre is a department in the center of France named after the river Indre. The inhabitants of the department are called Indriens.-History:Indre is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
département of France. In Guelph, there’s a park named after him with a maple tree representing his time in Canada, an oak his British sojourn, and a linden his time in France. The University of Toronto has designated a Pickersgill-Macalister garden on the west side of the "Soldiers' Tower" monument.
Further reading
- His story, and that of Jack Pickersgill is told in Unlikely Soldiers: How Two Canadians Fought the Secret War Against Nazi Occupation, by Jonathan Vance (HarperCollins, 2008). This book uses material from SOE files to tell the story of their endeavours.