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

IN ME MORI AM.
On 17 January 191 5 he enlisted in the 4th
Gordon Highlanders and later crossed with
them to France. He came through the heavy
campaign of 191 6 unscathed, but early in
December he was so severely wounded that
he died a few days later, 13 December 191 6.
COLLIE, JAMES KIRTON : Private, 5th
Battalion Gordon Highlanders ; son of
James Collie, wood-
turner ; born Kincard-
ine O'Neilj 20 March
1893 ; he was educated
at Gordon's College,
came up to the Univer-
sity in 1 91 3 and gradu-
ated M.A. in 1916.
Collie enlisted in the
i/7th Gordon High-
landers 15 April 1 916,
and was attached later
to the 5 th Battalion.
After training at Ripon,
and Rugeley (where he qualified as a Scout)
he crossed to France early in November, and
had served for only a few weeks when he was
killed by an enemy shell at Courcelles, 16
December 1916.
TAYLOR, ANDREW JAMES BAXTER :
Private, 4th Battalion Gordon Highland-
ers ; born Ayr, 14
September 1895 ; edu-
cated Robert Gordon's
College ; student in
Arts 1913-15 ; M.A.,
March 191 7 (post-
humous award).
He enlisted in the
4th Battalion Gordon
Highlanders, 21 Janu-
ary 1916 ; after six
months' training at
Ripon he crossed to
France, and five
months later he died, on 28 December 1916,
of wounds received in action at Courcellette.
Taylor's brief military career cut short a life
of great promise ; he possessed a disciplined
mind, a virile intellect, a forceful personality
and great enthusiasm for the matter in hand
whatever it might be. His special bent was
towards English literature and language. He
had intended to take Honours in Arts, and
as he had fulfilled all the requirements for the
ordinary degree of M.A. this was conferred
upon him by the Senatus after his death.
Taylor was only 21, he will be remembered
as one of those who gave " their lives, their
youth, their golden dreams ".
REID, WILLIAM MITCHELL: Private,
2nd Battalion South African Scottish ;
son of James Reid ;
born New York, 4
October 1888 ; edu-
cated Keam School,
Duffus, and Gordon's
College, Aberdeen.
He entered the Uni-
versity in 1906, gradu-
ated M. A., 1909.
After having taught
at Tomintoul Public
School and the Higher
Grade School, Rothe-
say, he received in
191 2 an appointment to the Boys' College,
Dundee, South Africa.
Reid volunteered for Imperial Service and
joined the South African Infantry in August
1 9 14, serving through the West African Cam-
paign under General Botha. He volunteered
for further service in France and came to
England with his regiment in April 1916. He
served with the Expeditionary Force in France
and Flanders from December 1916 onwards,
and died at Frevent, 3 January 191 7, from
wounds received in action. " Scrupulous fidel-
ity " had characterized him as a lad and as
the years went on that same fidelity to his
ideals made him give up his profession and
cross the seas to fight for King and Country.
BISSET, EDGAR GEORGE WILLIAM :
2nd Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps ; son of
James D. Bisset, bank agent ; born Inverurie,
30 July 1896; educated Peterhead Academy;
matriculated Aberdeen University 19 14, student
in Medicine, 1914-15.
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