Archibald Mitchell Woodside

Student

Archibald Woodside was a student of medicine at the University of Glasgow from 1914 to 1916. He was born July 8th 1897 in Edinburgh to Rev David Woodside and his wife Elizabeth Mary Woodside (nee Calderwood). The family lived just off the Great Western Road at 1 Colebrooke Terrace.

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

Woodside first matriculated at the University in 1914 to study Medicine, enrolling in classes such as Chemistry and Zoology. On 18th October 1914, he joined the Glasgow University Officers Training Corps. On 30th November 1915, whilst still at University, he attested to the 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry and was immediately placed on the Reserve.

Woodside left University, after completing his classes, on 31st January 1916 to enlist. He had already applied for a commission in December 1915 but applied again to join the Officer Cadet Unit on 28th April 1916. On 5th August 1916 he was mobilised to 8th Officer Cadet Battalion based at Lichfield in Staffordshire, and was later commissioned serve with the Highland Light Infantry.

Landing in France on 18 January 1917, Woodside and his battalion moved throughout northern France. On 19 April 1918 his Battalion were in support at Bouzincourt . The aftermath of the battle left Woodside in a Casualty Clearing Station at Gezaincourt, where he later died on 23rd April 1918. Woodside was buried in the cemetery opposite the Chateau, Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt in plot I.C.22.

Comments and Citations

Additional information provided by Neil Mackenzie, Commonwealth War Graves Commission