MacLagan, Thomas Duncan Ogilvie (1885 - 1918)

Captain, 2nd/ 14th Bn. London Regiment (London Scottish)

Buried at Jerusalem War Cemetery

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

Captain T. D. O. MacLagan was one of the best known and most esteemed of the older generation of Former Pupils. As boy and man he was noted for his attractive personality, his deep fund of sympathy, and his high sense of duty. In his day games did not bulk largely in the School programme, but he took full advantage of such facilities as were provided, and was largely responsible for the formation of the swimming section, the earliest athletic endeavour associated with the School. He was a life member of the Hillhead High School Club, and maintained his interest in all connected with it to the last.

In civil life he was attached to the Foreign and Colonial Branch of the Secretary's Office, St. Martins le Grand, London. As his business took him frequently abroad, he made a special study of languages, for which an excellent foundation had been laid in his School days. His former chief, writing on seeing the announcement of his death, says, "Your son was for some thirteen years attached to this office, where he did much useful and excellent work. We have missed his services greatly since 1914, when he was one of the first to leave us, and we have all followed his military career with the greatest interest, and have felt proud of the many honours which he won."

Lord Roberts kept himself fit up to the last years of his life by systematic training, declaring that he always felt he should be thoroughly prepared against the day when his country would need his services. We do not know whether Captain MacLagan had any such premonition of a call upon his manhood, but certainly no one ever took greater pains to make and keep himself perfectly fit for any emergency.

He was a member of the Civil Service Rugby Club, and played in their 1st XV., both in England and France. He was also a keen cricketer and tennis player. From the outset the military spirit was strong within him. For fifteen years he was an enthusiastic member of the London Scottish, and took part in some of their famous marches throughout Scotland. He was mobilised with his unit when war broke out, and in October, 1914, he went to France.

He was wounded at the first Battle of Ypres, and paid a visit to his old School during convalescence. The headmaster well remembers his
powerful, athletic frame and gallant bearing, and felt that here indeed was one born to lead a forlorn hope or storm an enemy stronghold. He was soon awarded a commission in his old regiment, and was one of the first of our Old Boys to gain the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry in planning and carrying out a raid on the German trenches. Later he went with his battalion to Salonica, and thence to Palestine. There he was awarded a bar to his Military Cross for the brilliant manner in which he handled his company during the advance on Jerusalem.

For general good service during the Palestine campaign he received the "Order of the Nile" from the Egyptian Government. He was killed on 30th April, 1918.

Captain MacLagan was the second son of the late Thomas Maclagan, Telegraphs, Glasgow and Manchester, and Mrs. MacLagan, 14 Park Corner, Glasgow, W. His loss is deeply mourned by his old School who are justly proud of the many honours which he won. Their sin