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

IN MEMORIAM.
Banff; born Ellon, 20 October 1878; educated
at Banff Academy ; entered the University as
seventh bursar and had
a distinguished career,
graduating M.A.
(Hons. Maths.), 1902 ;
and B.Sc, 1905. He
attended several Agri-
cultural Classes in
session 1904-05,
After holding various
positions, at Mortlach
Public School, Ding-
wall Academy and the
Central H.G. School,
Aberdeen, he was ap-
pointed headmaster of Lhanbryd Public School,
Morayshire.
Kennedy was mobilized as an Officer in the
6th Seaforth Highlanders, in August 19 14, and
proceeded with the Battalion to France in May
1915. Owing to his scientific training, he was
appointed a Gas Officer to the 51st Division, a
position he held until his death from wounds
near Corbie, on the Somme, 6 August 1916.
URQUHART, REV. WILLIAM: Lieu-
tenant, 1st Battalion Black Watch;
son of William Urqu-
hart, marine engineer ;
born Aberdeen, 20
Nov. 1883 ; entered
Gordon's College,
1894 ; matriculated,
1902 ; graduated M.A.
with Second Class
Honours in Philo-
sophy in 1906, win-
ning the Gladstone
Memorial Prize.
Under the auspices of
the Aberdeen Univer-
sity Missionary Association he superintended
with universal acceptance and much success
the " Spital Mission " during the winter session
of 1906 and the summer vacation of 1907,
During the summer of 1908 he worked on
a Rancher Mission in Alberta and graduated
B.D. in 1909, being Brown Scholar of that
year. He was assistant minister in Inveresk
Parish Church, 1909-10, and subsequently as-
sistant minister -in New Greyfriars, Edinburgh,
1910-12, when he was elected to the parish
of Kinloch - Rannoch, in the Presbytery of
Weem.
While a student in Arts, Urquhart joined
the Scottish Horse in the year of the foundation
of the University troop and, feeling he owed
to his country a debt for the military training
he had received during his arts career, he
enlisted about September 1914 as a Private
in the Royal Scots (McRae's Battalion). A
fearless thinker and a beloved pastor, he was
now to show himself a gallant soldier. In
191 6 he received a commission in the 1st
Battalion, Black Watch, where he was a
general favourite among his fellow - officers.
While leading his men to battle in Mametz
Wood on 16 August 1916, he was instant-
aneously killed.
PIRIE, GILBERT ALEXANDER : Private,
4th Battalion Cameron Highlanders;
son of Alexander Pirie,
Huntly ; born there,
26 January 1895 ; edu-
cated at the Gordon
Schools, Huntly, where
he was an enthusiastic
Boy Scout ; matricu-
lated in Medicine in
October 1914.
On 10 December
1 91 5 Pirie went to
Inverness to enlist in
the 3/4th Camerons
and was then sent for
training to Ripon, his abilities as a piper soon
gaining him a place in the band. He was
transferred to the i/4th Camerons and on 12
July 19 1 6 landed in France, where he met
an untimely death a few weeks later — near
Bazentin-Le-Petit, 18 August 19 16 — on his way
through the front line trenches to take a fallen
comrade's place as a stretcher bearer. One
of the many who laid down for posterity an
unripened life, he was of gentle and modest
demeanour, upright and honest in character;
his friendship was not easily gained but was
worth cultivating.
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