Organisations > University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919

IN ME MORI AM.
3rd Dragoon Guards with whom he served in
the South African War. On the conclusion
of that war he served in the African Mounted
Police.
He rejoined the 3rd Dragoon Guards in Sep-
tember 1 9 14 and proceeded to France in No-
vember of the same year. He died, 22 May
19 1 5, from wounds received at Loos in the pre-
ceding month.
MURRAY, JAMES SAN FORD:
Sapper, Royal Engineers; son of
Rev. James Murray,
D.D., missionary;
born Smyrna, 3 Janu-
ary 1895 ; educated
Gordon's College;
came up to the Uni-
versity in 1 91 2, and
was a student in Arts,
1912-14.
Whilst at Gordon's
College Murray joined
" E " Company, 4th
Gordon Highlanders,
and was mobilized
August 1 9 14. During his training at Bedford
he proved himself so efficient in signalling that
he was transferred to the 51st (Highland Divi-
sional) Signal Company, R.E. In April 1915
he went with his Company to France, and a few
weeks later, on 27 May 19 15, he died of wounds
received in action at Vieille Chappelle. Testi-
mony to his work was borne by the words of his
CO., who wrote : " One of the finest young
soldiers I ever met, always ready and willing to
do his work any time, and when we were very
busy quite pleased to work his twelve hours
without grumbling ".
MIDDLETON, ROBERT HUGH: Pri-
vate, 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders ;
son of David Middleton, farmer ; born Liver-
pool, 5 December 1892 ; educated Robert Gor-
don's College, Aberdeen ; matriculated in Arts,
191 2. At the University he showed exceptional
talent and ability as an English scholar. To
" Alma Mater " he was a frequent contributor of
prose and verse which showed real gifts, wide
reading and much originality.
Enlisting in the University Company of the
4th Gordons in 1913, Middleton trained with
them at Bedford and
served with his unit in
Flanders, till he was
killed in action at
Hooge, 1 June 1915.
A University friend
who was with him in
the trenches wrote :
" He was not one of
those who grow less
lovable as they grow
more intimately
known, because he
had sympathy, taste
and understanding ". With his eyes open, re-
alizing all the sacrifice he might be called upon
to make, he yet was " eager for the glorious and
glad adventure," and, following the path of duty,
joined the ranks of those " whose life was all to-
morrow — and they died to-day."
GUTHRIE, HECTOR MacLENNAN:
Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion Lanca-
shire Fusiliers;
son of James Guthrie,
commercial traveller;
born Portsoy, 1 1 July
1892; educated at
Fordyce Academy;
entered Aberdeen
University as 2nd
Bursar, 19 10; gradu-
ated M.A. with First
Class Honours in
English, in 1914.
Though he died "un-
known to fame," those who knew Guthrie in
his student days felt that, with his love of
literature, his wealth of knowledge and his
naturally easy and beautiful style, he would have
made a place for himself in the higher ranks of
students and writers of English.
A sergeant in " U " Company of the 4th Bat-
talion Gordon Highlanders, he proceeded to
Bedford for service with the Battalion in August
1 9 14. Eager to increase his chances of being
sent to the Front early in the war, he applied for
and obtained a commission in the 3rd Battalion