Poignant tribute to former depute head of Bearsden Academy

action 100 years ago.

Lieutenant James Ross was depute head teacher (or second master) at Bearsden Academy (then known as Bearsden school). He was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 26th July, 1916.

To commemorate the centenary of his death the school put his photo, which was originally hung in the now primary school, on the wall in the history department, where pupils can pause and reflect.

The pupils also made a beautiful display of poppies which was placed next to his photo.

Lieutenant Ross died at High Wood, during an assault in which he was the only man to reach the enemy trench.

He was seen firing his revolver until it ran out of ammunition and he was shot and fell.

His body was tragically never recovered.

His name is on the Theipval memorial to the fallen of the Somme and on the war memorial at Bearsden Cross.

He left behind a wife and baby daughter.

The Battle of the Somme during the First World War was fought by the British and French against the Germans. It took place between 1 July and 18 November 1916 on both sides of the River Somme in France.

This was the largest battle of the First World War on the Western Front and more than one million men were wounded or killed, making it one of the bloodiest battles in human history.

The pupils studied the poem ‘In Flanders Field’ written by John McCrae who was inspired to write it after he saw poppies growing among graves on the western front. He himself died in 1918.

The pupils wrote short eulogies in memory of James Ross including: ‘In loving memory of James Ross. An amazing man who died for us on the battlefield. He was a hero, a loving father who cared for his family. He will be missed very dearly’ and ‘You will be remembered, we will not forget you.’