James McLellan

James enrolled in Latin and Greek and joined the University's Officers' Training Corps. The following year he studied Logic and Metaphysics, Moral Philosophy and Mathematics. A good student, he passed all his degree exams and gained a first class certificate in Logic and Metaphysics. He abandoned his studies in 1915, however, in the company of many of his fellow students eager to get into uniform and applied for a commission. He went to war, now 2nd Lieutenant McLellan of the 3rd Bn. Highland Light Infantry.

His regiment served on the Western Front and James was recruited to be part of the Machine Gun Corps. These were units raised during the war and attached to the individual regiments, but which were said to cherry-pick some of the best and brightest officers, taking them away from the infantry. Their skills, especially in Mathematics, were an asset in the operation of the Vickers machine gun. 2nd Lieutenant McLellan was one of these valued officers. In addition to his skills, his courage was recognised by the award of the Military Cross in July 1917, when he showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He had risked his life to go out to no-man’s land to an aeroplane that had fallen about 150 yards from the front line. He ascertained that both the pilot and observer were dead before bringing back all the maps that might have been helpful to the enemy.

2nd Lieutenant James McLellan was killed on the 4th October 1917, probably in action at Broodseinde Ridge, a successful attempt to push the enemy from the ridge that stood between the allies and the village of Passchendaele. He was 22. His name is engraved on the memorial at Tyne Cot, which honours the Missing.