Gandy, William Henry (1878 - 1915)

Captain, 7th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Helles Memorial

Commemorated at Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour

At the outbreak of war William volunteered for foreign service and trained at Dunfermline where he was Senior Captain of A Company. The 7th Highland Light Infantry left Dunfermline on 24th May 1915 for the Dardanelles, Turkey. On July 12 1915, Captain Gandy led a charge at 5pm and 10 minutes after going over the top he was killed instantaneously.

William was the only son of Captain Gandy, at one time of the old State Line of steamships and Mrs Gandy, Holmview, Uddingston, Lanarkshire.

After leaving school he went to the Standard Insurance Company and was with them for 13 years. He left to become a traveller with Messrs Harvey & Co., Paisley.

He was a keen volunteer. After serving as a Private he joined the 7th Highland Light Infantry (The Blythswoods) as Second Lieutenant in 1905 and in 1912 obtained his Captaincy. He was well known in West of Scotland business circles and was a leading member of the Tam O'Shanter Club. In Sir Ian Hamilton's despatch, dated 11 December 1915, he was mentioned for distinguished and gallant service in the field.

Memorial: Captain Gandy has no known grave but is commemorated like many others who died in Gallipoli at the Helles Memorial; Bellahouston Academy Roll of Honour 1914-1918 and the Scottish National War Memorial