William Ebenezer Maitland

Maitland was a native of Kilmacolm. He attended Glasgow High School before attending the University of Glasgow where he studied medicine. He won class certificates in Physics, Practical Zoology and Diseases of the Throat and Nose, and went on to obtain his degree (MB ChB) in 1913.

He was working as house physician in Glasgow Royal Infirmary at the outbreak of war. He took a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Third Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders from August 15th 1914 and was soon drafted to the front with the 2nd Battalion of the Black Watch, to which he had been gazetted.

Second Lieutenant Maitland was wounded in the trenches 500 yards from Richebourg l'Avouve on 21st December 1914. Sadly he did not make it home for Christmas, dying from wounds on Christmas Eve.

William Maitland was fondly remembered by his university friends. 'Teddy' was remembered as one of the kindest-hearted and most genuine of men. He was popular in the rugby team and is said to have spent many hours improving his ruby skills and trying to impart to others the same love of sport, clean living and fresh air that inspired him. His life was cut short at the beginning of what promised to be a brilliant and useful career, leaving many to mourn his loss.