Roll of Honour

2nd Lieutenant

James Nairne

Student

James Nairne, known to his family as Jamie, was a Glaswegian by birth, the only son of James, a baker, and his wife Margaret. The family home was at 127 Albert Road. When he began his medical studies at Glasgow University in October 1915 he was only seventeen and just finished his secondary school education at Hutcheson’s Grammar School, where he had been a prize winner, school captain, and Sergeant-Major of the school's Cadet Force. James did well in his first year in Medicine. In addition to earning a creditable mention in Botany he gained a first class certificate in Medical Physics. In peaceful times it would have been a good foundation for an MB Ch.B.

Memorial chapel at the University of Glasgow
The Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow

Nairne enlisted as soon as he was of age, enlisting in March 1916 and tooking a commission in the Highland Light Infantry. Just over a year later, on the 13th April 1918, second lieutenant Nairne, now nineteen and serving with the 9th Battalion H.L.I., was killed in action. On that day his battalion was engaged in the Battle of Bailleul (13th- 15th April), part of the Lys Offensive during the Fourth Battle of Ypres. In Belgium his name is honoured on the Ploegstreet Memorial, and at home on the memorials of his old school, Hutcheson’s, his University and his church, St Andrews in the Square.

Comments and Citations

University of Glasgow Registry Records (Matriculation R8/5/36/4), R6/72 and Calendars

University of Glasgow ROH Ch 4/4/2/3/1175

CWGC Debt of Honour

Scottish Military Research Group (online)