Diamond, Julius ( - 1917)

Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps

Buried at Arras Flying Services Memorial

Commemorated at City of Glasgow Roll of Honour at Glasgow City Chambers

Julius Diamond was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, in 1896, son of Myer Diamond, a clothing manufacturer, and was staying at 116 Portland Street, Glasgow when he came to Glasgow University in 1914, studying Mathematics and French. Julius was a member of the University's Officers' Training Corps (OTC).

The Jewish Chronicle on the 26th October 1917 reported Lieutenant Diamond as missing:

"Lieutenant Julius Diamond MC, RFC, who is officially reported missing, is the son of Mr D. Diamond, Abbotsford Place, Glasgow. Before war broke out, he was a student at Glasgow University. He is 21 years of age. He was gazetted in the King's Own Scottish Borderers and having seen service in France, was transferred to the RFC on 1916. After having been mentioned several times in dispatches for his good work, he was awarded the Military Cross. He was due in Glasgow early in November on short leave. Lieutenant Diamond was an energetic worker in the Glasgow Jewish community, having been recently Secretary of the Jewish Representative Council, Vice President of the Junior Zionist Society and member of the committee of the Grand Order of Israel."

The press cutting in our archive (GUAS Ref: CH4/4/2/3/1014) is similar to the entry in the London Gazette, dated 17th March 1918, and also in the supplement of the Edinburgh Gazette, dated 11th March 1918, and contained the following information on him being awarded the Military Cross (MC):

"Sec Lt (T./Lt) Julius Diamond, K.O.S.B., Spec. Res. and R.F.C. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in co-operating with our artillery often under most adverse conditions. On two occasions he ranged our siege batteries on hostile battery positions causing numerous fires and explosions."

Lieutenant Julius Diamond died on the 8th October 1917, and is memorialised on the Arras Flying Services Memorial in north-east France.

Reproduced with permission from the University of Glasgow Roll of Honour: http://www.universitystory.gla.ac.uk/ww1-intro/