Marshall, Allan Gow (1881 - 1917)

Captain, 17th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Ten Tree Alley Cemetery, Puisieux

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Captain Allan Gow Marshall was a pupil in Hillhead High School for about seven years. He then proceeded to the Royal High School, Edinburgh, where he greatly distinguished himself, gaining prizes in modern languages and becoming captain of the School XV.

On leaving School he studied in Germany for a year and then returned to take up business in Glasgow. He ultimately became a director and secretary of the firm of James Marshall, Limited, Glasgow, and took an active part in its management. His other activities mainly centred round his church, Woodlands United Free, and its mission in the north of the city, to which he gave the most devoted and faithful service.

At the outbreak of war, though he might well, in view of his training and education, have waited for a commission, he joined the 17th H.L.I. (Chamber of Commerce Battalion) as a private. After some months in the ranks he was granted a commission in the same battalion, a rare and coveted honour.

After a period of training at home he joined his unit in France in the summer of 1916. He took part with his battalion in the fighting on the Somme, and was gazetted captain in the autumn of that year. On the 12th February, 1917, he was killed by a sniper's bullet while out reconnoitring the enemy's positions.

His commanding officer wrote-" To me personally he was a standby who could always be depended upon. He was imbued with the ideals of the 17th, and always lived up to them. To refer to his example of bravery as shown in his daily life in the line, or his devotion to duty, seems trifling. His spirit embodied these qualities to the fullest extent, and were natural to him. That explains why he was so much beloved and respected by us all."

A brother officer pays him the following tribute :-" Nobody could know him without loving him-he was always so cheery and unselfish, so good to his men, and so ready to do anyone a good turn."

The sincere sympathy of the School and a wide circle of friends is extended to his widow and infant son.