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Biographies
WILFRED CYRIL DE NANCE
Lance 'Corporal, Scottish Rifles
Lance-Corporal Wilfred C. de Nance was the younger son of the late William
C. de Nance, dentist, 281 St. George's Road, Glasgow, and the only son of Mrs. de
Nance, 28 Holyrood Quadrant. He received all his education at Hillhead High
School, where he is still remembered for his bright and cheerful disposition and
frank, open nature. On leaving School he entered the office of Messrs. Napier &
M'Intyre, iron merchants, Oswald Street. There he made rapid progress, and was
held in high esteem by his principals and the other members of the staff. At the
outbreak of war he was a member of the Hillhead Company of the Glasgow
Highlanders, and was mobilised on the 4th August, 1914. He proceeded with his
battalion to France in November, and was one of the gallant band who held the Yser
Front against the overwhelming forces of the enemy. The war has brought many
surprises, but when the full story of it comes to be written probably the greatest
will be the failure of the Germans in the early days of the war to break through the
thin red line of British troops. Then, too, will be known the full story of the
amazing bravery and almost incredible hardships of the original British Army.
Corporal de Nance came safely through it all, but was wounded in the head at the
Battle of Festubert in April, 1915. After a long spell in hospital and at home he
returned to France in April, 1916. He came safely through much hard fighting
during the Battle of the Somme, but fell in action on 20th May, 1917. The sergeant
of his platoon writing home says, " Your son was by my side during some heavy
fighting, and I found him to be a dependable companion. Later in the day, when
the German position was captured, he was shot through the heart by a sniper, and
died immediately. All of Platoon No. 6 feel his loss very much, I especially, as he
was one of my best and most reliable N.C.O.'s." The pupils and staff tender their
sincerest sympathy to his mother in the loss of a dearly beloved and only son.
ROBERT HILLIER NAPIER, B.D.
Lieutenant, 4/ 1st Batt. King's African Rifles
Robert Hillier Napier was born at Yoker in 1884. He entered Hillhead High
School in 1898, going two years later to Morrison's Academy, Crieff, where he
became Dux of the School in 1901. He always spoke with great affection of his life
at Hillhead High School when his chief friend was Alexander Grant, afterwards a
missionary in India, thus indicating in these early days the purity of his heart and
mind, like drawing to like. At the University 'he fulfilled all the promise of his
School days and proved himself to be a brilliant and distinguished student. Having
graduated with 2nd Class Honours in classics in 1905 he entered the Divinity Hall
of the Church of Scotland, gaining there many prizes and other distinctions. At the
close of his Divinity course he gained the B.D. degree, and the Black Fellowship as
the first student of his year.
During his college career his energies were spread over a wide field ; he was an
enthusiastic volunteer and played a prominent part in the Union debates; he was
President of the Christian Union, and his popularity with his fellows was evidenced
by his election as President of the S.R.C. At the close of a short period of service
with Dr. Menzies Fergusson, Logie, he was ordained in 1909 as a missionary of the
Church of Scotland, and sailed for Nyassaland. In the mission field he found his
true vocation, his fine gifts of scholarship, noble qualities of heart and unremitting
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