James Cook Gray

Gray enrolled to study for an MA at the university in Session 1908-1909 at the age of 18. He enrolled for classes in Latin and Mathematics in his first year. He passed his Latin and Maths classes for first year in May 1909. Throughout his time studying at the university, Gray resided in Stanfield, Airdrie.

In his second year in Session 1909-1910, Gray enrolled for classes in Logic, English and Political Economy, passing Logic and English and again Political Economy in May 1910. He showed academic prowess, passing with 70 marks in Political Economy and also Roman Law achieving his requirements for an LL.B law degree in advance.

In his third year he demonstrated his eagerness to later study law by enrolling for classes in Social Economics, Civil Law and again, Political Economy. He graduated with an MA on the 20th of June 1911, well-prepared to undertake an LL.B.

He commenced his study for a law degree in 1911 at the age of 21, enrolling for classes in Public International Law and Constitutional Law. He was clearly well suited to this course, displaying academic prowess by being awarded a First Class Certificate (and coming second highest in his class) for Civil (or Roman) Law in the class of lecturer William Dunbar in session 1911-1912.

The next year (Session 1912-1913) Gray enrolled to study Scot Law and Jurisprudence, again displaying his academic potential by coming top in his class and winning a First Class Prize in the Public International Law class of lecturer A.H.Charteris.

In March 1914 he sat his examinations for an LL.B. Having already completed the requirements for law (having taken Political Economy and Civil Law in his undergraduate MA), he was only required to pass one more module in Conveyancing, which he did, with an excellent mark of 79. Gray hence graduated on the 14th of November, 1914 with an LL.B.

According to a newspaper cutting from the time, after his studies, Gray served his 'apprenticeship to the legal profession in Glasgow and was admitted to the Bar on the day which he received a commission to the Highland Light Infantry' on the 24th of August 1916.

Unfortunately like so many successful lives cut short during the Great War, Captain James Cook Gray of the 11th Batallion Border Regiment, Highland Light Infantry died at the age of only 26, on the 22nd of December 1917 in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. An extract from 'The Edinburgh Gazette' reveals he had recently (on the 14th of September, 1917) been awarded a Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at a time when all communication with the front line had been severed by intense hostile barrage. He repeatedly made his way through the barrage to advanced Company Headquarters and brought back information to his Battalion Commander who was thereby enable to make suitable dispositions to repel the enemy of whose advance he would otherwise be totally unaware. The officer’s fearlessness and devotion to duty were above all praise." His grave is in the Hospital Farm Cemetery in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium in plot D.1. His grave is marked with a cross bearing the inscription “M.A., LL.B., Advocate He died that we might live.” He is remembered here, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and in the University of Glasgow’s Roll of Honour.