Roll of Honour
Private
Douglas Fairley McGregor
Student
Douglas Fairley McGregor was just sixteen in 1912 when he began his studies for the degree of B.Sc. at the University of Glasgow. He was born almost on campus, at Hillhead, in 1896. His father, David, was a manufacturing agent. In his first year Douglas enrolled in classes in Maths, Natural Philosophy and Chemistry. In second year he took Geography and Maths. One of the last things he did at university before signing up as a private in the 5th Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was to take his Chemistry exam in October 1914.
On 29th October 1916, Douglas was killed in action at the Somme, probably during his battalion’s advance on Hazy and Boritska trenches in the very early hours of the morning. The decision had been taken not to announce the movement with the usual artillery barrage in order to surprise the enemy. British casualties were heavy. News of their son’s death would reach David and Jessie McGregor at 33 Camphill Street, Queens Park, Glasgow. Private Douglas Fairley, aged 20, was buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, on land that was captured by the British in 1916 and lost to the Germans in the Spring advance of 1918 before being returned to the British in August 1918. It was only then that the cemetery was established and over 5,000 bodies of the men who had died there in the autumn of 1916 were brought in from surrounding cemeteries to a final resting place.
Comments and Citations
University of Glasgow ROH CH 4/4/2/3/789
University of Glasgow Registry R8/5/33/5, R8/5/34/5,Abandoned Student Files
CWGC Debt of Honour
Ray Westlake, Tracing British Battalions on the Somme https://books.google.co.uk