Baillie, Harold Montague 64984 (1897 - 1917)

Corporal, 175th Coy. Machine Gun Corps

Buried at Tyne Cot Memorial

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Harold Montague Baillie was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Baillie, 12 Wilson Street, Hillhead. At School he was always in the first flight, and carried off many prizes, especially in mathematics. His was a refined, sensitive nature, and his tastes did not lie towards athletics and games, but rather to books and music, of which he was passionately fond. His strong but reserved character, his obliging disposition, and his perfect reliability in word and deed made a marked impression on all his teachers. On leaving School he entered the office of Messrs. Burrell & Son, shipowners. There his promotion was rapid, and his early death was greatly mourned by his employers, who testified to the high regard in which he was held by all the members of the staff. Each winter he attended educational and musical classes, and for two years he acted as pianist in Kelvin Street Mission Sabbath School. He had a high sense of duty, and when war broke out he expressed his intention of joining as soon as he was of age. When that time came he enlisted in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, but was soon transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. He went to France with his unit in March, 1917, with the rank
of corporal. There he proved himself to be a devoted, staunch, and faithful soldier.

On the morning of 26th September, 1917, while advancing into action in theneighbourhood of Polygon Wood he was struck by a piece of shrapnel, and died immediately. His lieutenant wrote, "Corporal Baillie's death is most deeply felt throughout the company. He was a gallant gentleman, who fought and died for the land we love so well." That is a true and beautiful epitaph for Harold Baillie, and to it need only be added that he was a loving and devoted son and brother and a faithful and loyal friend.