McLagan, James (1894 - 1916)

Second Lieutenant, 3rd Lowland Field Company, 1st Highland Field Company, Royal Engineers

Buried at Sighthill Cemetery

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

Born in Partick on 15th July 1894, James McLagan was the only son of James and Jeannie McLagan, 11 Sutherland Street, Hillhead. He was educated at Hillhead High School from 1901 to 1911. He was a very promising pupil, known for his prowess in the rugby and cricket teams as much as for his academic achievements. After he left school, James went to the University of Glasgow to study engineering.

He was a good student. Though he appeared to struggle a little at first with Natural Philosophy, he passed the exam after two resits and never looked back. In his third year, 1913-1914 he took first class certificates in Higher Natural Philosophy and Geology, and in his final year he gained an equal third place in Engineering. He graduated BSc in April 1915.

When war broke out, he was a member of the OTC but was reported unfit for service owing to the effects of a severe illness the previous year. In June 1915, however, he received his commission in the Highland Field Company of the Royal Engineers. Later he was transferred to the Lowland Field Company and was posted to Witham, Essex, where he had charge of a company erecting barbed wire entanglements and gun emplacements.

After a course on bombing he returned to his old unit as an instructor. On 8th June, 1916, a bomb burst accidentally and he was killed instantaneously. His Colonel wrote to his parents:

"During the fortnight previous to his tragic death he was almost continuously beside me as assistant Adjutant. I had thus full opportunity to appreciate his sterling worth of uprightness, and I can assure you that a his death is not only a personal loss and grief to me, but a loss to the Army."

Major Jackson wrote of him:

"He was one of the best officers and most conscientious performers of duty that ever I came across. No work I could give him was too hard, and no obstacle was too complicated for him to overcome, and when I gave orders I knew that they would be rigidly obeyed."

There were many other fine tributes. 2nd Lieutenant McLagan is buried in Glasgow (Sighthill Cemetery) and commemorated at Eastwood Cemetery.

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