Richard Forsyth McGibbon

He came to the University of Glasgow to study medicine, and matriculated in October 1913, studying the normal classes in Zoology, Chemistry and Physics.

Richard enlisted in the army initially in the Royal Army Medical Corps but when he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant on 5th April 1915, he was assigned to the Highland Light Infantry. He was injured at Beaumont Hamel during the Battle of the Somme and taken to the Canadian Dressing Station, where he died on 16th November 1916, of the injuries he had received. He is buried in the nearby Puchevillers British Cemetery. Richard had a cousin of the same name who was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in October 1915, in the Seaforth Highlanders. Sadly he was also killed, dying on 23rd April 1917 in a battle for Guemappe, and is buried in the cemetery of that name.

As well as the University memorial, Richard is commemorated on the Paisley town War Memorial, and on the Paisley Grammar School memorial. Richard’s sword was recovered and returned to the family, and Mrs McGibbon gave it to her close friend Irene Jamieson. From her it has returned, most fittingly , to Jim Devine, the saceretary of the Highland Light Infantry Association.