Hay, Gordon Ritchie 4350 (1896 - 1916)

Private, 9th Bn. Higland Light Infantry

Buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Private Gordon Ritchie Hay was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James M. Hay, Torwood, Kelvinside Gardens, Glasgow, and Haslemere, Troon.

On leaving School he entered his father's business, and sought to prepare himself for his lifework by hard work and regular attendance at evening classes. For several years until he went on service, he was actively associated with Band of Hope mission work, in the fostering of which he displayed an extraordinary interest and untiring zeal.

On the outbreak of war he joined the Former Pupils' Training Corps, of which he was an enthusiastic member, and early in 1915 he enlisted in the Glasgow Highlanders as a private.

After a long period of training at home he proceeded to France in March, 1916, and fell in action at High Wood on the 15th July of that year. A comrade, writing home, says that in advancing to the attack on the night of the 14th they came across a party of Germans who were holding a strong position in a wood, and who shouted something to them. Private Hay, as the only one who could speak German, was
asked to tell them to come out and give themselves up. Shortly afterwards he was struck by a bullet in the head, and died on the instant.

Under his quiet and gentle disposition lay hidden much strength and purpose of character, and he became a soldier from no love of fighting, but a simple sense of duty. He was a lad of great charm of manner and great capacity for friendship, and in a letter from the front reporting the circumstances of his death, the writer says, "Your son was one of the finest young men I ever had the pleasure of meeting, of a cheery disposition and generous to a fault."

In the hard school of war he proved himself a true soldier, and was greatly beloved by all his comrades. He was twenty years of age.