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Hillhead High School
JAMES K. TAYLOR
Private. 6th H.L.I.
Private James K. Taylor was the only son of Mr. David Taylor, O.B.E., and
of Mrs. Taylor, 30 Lawrence Street, Partick. In civil life he was an apprentice
naval architect, and was employed with Messrs. Barclay, Curie & Co. in their
drawing office. He was a good student at School, and sought to qualify himself
for his life work by attendance at the Technical College. There his application
and keenness brought him to the front, and a bright career seemed opening up
before him when the call came for other service. Like so many more Hillhead
High School boys he was an active member of the 6th H.L.I. , and on the 4th
August, 1914, his regiment was mobilised for active service together with other
Territorial units which went to form the glorious 52nd Lowland Division. In
May, 1915, he sailed for Egypt, and from there proceeded to the Dardanelles in
time to take part in the heroic but ill-fated attack on Achi Baba. He was one
of the few who passed in safety through the perils, privations, and sickness of
that campaign, but during the evacuation of Cape Helles in January, 1916, he
received a slight wound which kept him in hospital for some time in Mudros and
later in Egypt. He recovered in time to take part in the first Battle of Gaza,
and aferwards shared in the hardships and glories of the advance on Palestine.
In the spring of 1918, when the great German onslaught threatened to overwhelm
our forces, the 52nd Division was recalled to the Western Front. There on the
27th September Private Taylor was wounded during an attack on Moeuvres, a
place that will be for ever associated with the deathless deeds of the 52nd
Division. The chaplain, writing to the parents, told them that their son had
died in hospital on 4th October, and was buried with military honours in
Abbeville cemetery. " I trust," he added, " that you will be comforted by the
knowledge that he was a brave man. and in a brave fight he bravely died."
GEORGE C. THOMPSON
Private, 14th Batt. Princess Louise's (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders)
Private George C. Thompson was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. G. A.
Thompson, 197 Garrioch Road, Maryhill. At Sciiool he is still remembered as a
bright, frank, cheery youth, who put heart and conscience into all his work.
From School he proceeded to Anderson's College to study chemistry, and later
joined the firm of Messrs. Ardoll, Limited, Selby, Yorkshire, as analytical
chemist. In 1915 he joined the Commercial and Professional Battalion of the
A. & S.H., and proceeded with them to France in June, 1916. After some
months' service he was invalided home, but made a good recovery, and was soon
back again in the firing line. On the opening day of the Battle of Arras, 9th
April, 1917, he fell in that great and successful advance, aged twenty-one years.
Private Thompson took an active part in all the activities of St. George's
Episcopal Church, Maryhill, being a member of the choir and of the Boys'
Brigade and Scouts. During his last year in the Brigade he brought honour
to his company by winning the Glasgow championship for bugle playing. He
fell in the hour of victory, doing his duty manfully and cheerfully, and his old
School, with sad but proud hearts, enrols him amongst her heroes.
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