The Glasgow Academy WW2 Roll of Honour From the onset of the second World War in Sept 1939 until the formal end in Sept 1945, the Glasgow Academy suffered a great many losses during the conflict. The following is a list of the former pupils who were casualties and as far as we have been able to, includes information and photographs to tell the stories of these men. In some case, we have little or no information about some of these individuals, so please get in touch if you have anything which could help us fill in the gaps and help us tell their stories. Email: [email protected] 1 Flt Sgt Herbert Philips Adams Biography He was a Sergeant Pilot in the RAF. Herbert Adams, a son of the well-known golf professional, was posted as missing on 19th April of this year (1941). Royal Air Force 17 Jan 1916-9th Mar Son of David Adams The Chronicle Volunteer Reserve 1941 Esq, and of Margaret Adams, of Bearsden, (RAFVR) Age: 25 Glasgow Image: Memorial New Kilpatrick Church 2 Captain William S Aird Biography William, born in Coatbridge, graduated in Medicine from Glasgow University in 1940 Following graduation he joined the medical th corps and served in India and then in Burma Royal Army Medical 23 Feb 1912-10 Son of Dr Robert where he died dysentery and malaria on his Corps May 1943 Aird, MB, ChB , and Agnes Motherwell way to jail, following capture by the Age: 21 Japanese. Niven Aird, of Glasgow MB, ChB (Glasgow) 3 Sgt Alistair William Aitken Biography Alistair Aitken left the Academy in 1940, he played for the 1st XV, and headed the bowling averages in that year. He went on to serve in the Air Force and according Royal Air Force 1924-10th Nov 1943 Son of James and to German reports was attacked when alone by several enemy fighters After ten minutes the Volunteer Reserve Margaret Newall Age: 19 Aitken of Glasgow Sunderland was riddled and fell into the Bay of (RAFVR) Biscay. The Chronicle 4 Major Kenneth Aitken MC Biography At school Kenneth was a talented sportsman and a Prefect. He left the Academy in 1923. Commissioned directly after the outbreak of war, he was at Dunkirk, and subsequently with the Highland Division from Alamein to Sicily and won a Military Cross (MC). He was killed in action near Lisieux in August, 1944 The Royal Artillery 1905-19th Aug 1944 Second son of Hugh CRA of the Highland Division described him as "an officer Wallace Aitken, of outstanding courage and devotion to duty“. 127 Field Regiment Age: 39 The Chronicle Colonial Engineer, Service No. 98595 Glasgow, and Mrs Commemorated on the Ranville War Cemetery Roll of Honour, Calvados, France. Jessie Eva Aitken (nee Robertson) 5 Lieutenant Peter Alexander Biography Peter Alexander, left the Academy in 1942 from the 6th Form He had been a Prefect, Captain of Shooting, and a Sergeant in the J T C , and had played for the 2nd XV. He was described as of “sturdy character” and “steady and reliable” Royal Tank Regiment 1924-19th July 1944 Son of Peter Alexander of A member of the Home Guard while still at school, Age: 20 his happy temperament and sterling character will Glasgow, W2 not lightly be forgotten He was killed in his tank at Caen, Normandy. 6 Lieutenant Alistair S H Baillie Biography Alastair Stuart Hamilton Baillie, previously reported missing, is now known to have lost his life over enemy territory in June, 1944 He was at the Academy from 1924-31, and played in the 3rd XV He was an only child The Chronicle 1944 On 23rd November 1941 the two men on board this 20 E.F.T.S. aircraft were carrying out a training flight when they encountered a bank of th fog. The instructor made a precautionary landing near Weeton, to the Royal Air Force 1914-13 Jun 1944 Only Son of Stuart north of Yeadon airfield but the aircraft ran into a furrow in the field. Volunteer Reserve Fraser Baillie and The aircraft sustained damage to its undercarriage, main planes and Age: 30 Andrewina P H propeller but the instructor and pupil escaped uninjured. The aircraft (RAFVR) Baillie, of Moidart, was repaired. The unit ORB gives the rank of the pilot of P/O but Renfrewshire technically he rose to the rank of F/O three days before this incident Husband of Anne although the notification did not come through for some weeks. RAF Baillie Records 7 Captain David Gavin Balls Biography David Gavin Balls was killed in action at the Haydon Wadi, Anzio. A pupil at the Academy between 1926-37, he left after Vth form. Highland Light 1920-1st Mar 1944 Son of Mrs Margaret David was a member of the 1st XI and 1st XV, Infantry Balls, widow of being vice-captain of the latter. Captain of his Age: 24 Glasgow. His deceased father was a Banker at House, he was also a School Prefect. A fine the Clydesdale Bank in record, closed by the supreme sacrifice. which David followed his father’s footsteps The Chronicle 8 Surgeon Commander Frank C M Bamford Biography Surgeon-Commander Francis Cecil Mayall Bamford (Frank), RN, left the Academy in 1912. He was killed in action when HMS Dorsetshire was sunk by a Japanese air attack In the Indian Ocean on 5th April, 1942. His Captain afterwards wrote of him in moving terms "Seldom have I met a man with more consideration for others and less for himself - He died as he lived--a brave unselfish man" were among the heartfelt tributes penned. Royal Navy 13 March 1900-5th Son of Frank Linwood Apr 1942 Bamford and of Hilda The Chronicle H.M.S. Dorsetshire Alexandra Bamford Age: 42 He graduated MB, ChB from the University of (nee Assafrey) of Glasgow in 1926. He is commemorated on the Glasgow Plymouth Naval Memorial, England. Husband of Beatrice Bamford (nee Train), of Rutherglen, MB, ChB 9 Major Ralph AW Barr Biography Ralph Alexander Walls Barr, Major, The Cameronians (SR), serving with the Indian Army, left school in 1938. He was a School prefect and Captain of the Shooting VIII. His modest bearing gave no hint of his remarkable abilities as a marksman. th He was killed in Burma. Scottish Rifles 1920-25 May 1944 Son of George Barr and Isabella Vallance Born in Paisley, Ralph enrolled as an Arts student at Cameronians Age: 24 Barr of Ardrossan Glasgow University for the 1938/39 session, but left to th join up. He was seconded to the Indian Army (Mahar 7 Battalion Regiment) in January 1944 and was killed there on 25 May. Commemorated at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. 10 Flying Officer Robert Barr Biography Robert Barr, Flying Officer, RAF, was a son of the manse and spent three years at the Academy before spending a year as a medical student at Glasgow University between 1940 - 1941. RAF 1920-18th Nov 1943 Son of Rev. Andrew He was two years in the Clyde River Patrol, and two Age: 23 Barr, Minister years in USA flying. He was, so to speak, on the eve of operational duties when he met his death. The Chronicle 11 Sgt James M M Billing Biography James Milne Monro Billing came to the Academy in 1924, and left six years later from the Fifth Form. It is a year since he was first reported Missing on an operational flight; RAF 1914-20th Dec 1942 Son of Roger Roberts Billing and Florence now, the official verdict is presumed ‘lost’. He Age: 28 was a younger son, and lived in Bearsden. Mary Monro Billing, of Bearsden, The Chronicle Dunbartonshire 12 Seaman Joseph C Blyth Biography Joseph Cameron Blyth came to the Academy in 1933 In his last session (1937-8) he was in the Vth Class, a member of the 2nd XI and 1St XV. His masters were in the habit of summing him up as "A good, keen type'‘ st and such he proved when tested in a bigger crisis than Royal Navy 1922-1 May 1942 Son of James Cameron Blyth, and those of the class-room. The Commander of his ship Age: 20 reports that he was gravely wounded by a fragment of Nellie Lawrence shell during an action with German destroyers, and died Blyth, of Giffnock, soon after the action. Renfrewshire The Chronicle 13 Captain William ‘Bill’ A Brechin Biography William Atholl Brechin prefect and fine athlete, left the Academy In 1940 He played for the 1st XV and the Golf Team. A sergeant in the Officer Training Corps (OTC), he won the Silver Bugle in st 1938. Argyll and Sutherland 1921-1 Nov 1942 Son of William and Highlanders Mabel Brechin, of He died of wounds in the Middle East in Age: 21 Stinchar, Ayrshire November, 1942 received when he was leading a stretcher party to rescue one of his men. The Chronicle 14 Major William Brockhill Biography Former Scout member of the 72nd Glasgow Group. Killed in Normandy, remembered on Royal Army Ordnance 1917-8th Jun 1944 Son of Frederic the Bayeux Memorial, Panel 18, Column 3. Corps George and Margaret Age: 37 Hastie Brockhill Service No. 135140 Husband of Winnifred Brockhill 15 Sgt David M Buchanan Biography David Mitchell Buchanan, Flight-Sergeant, RAF , was accidentally killed while serving in India He came to the Academy in 1930 (1st English Junior) and left in 1938 from the Third Class. st The Chronicle RAF 1924-1 May 1945 Son of David and Lily Maud Buchanan His aircraft flew into the ground on a low level Age: 21 of Glasgow exercise.