War hero recognised by his former school

A soldier killed in action during the First World War who was accidentally omitted from his school’s war memorial has been remembered.
Librarian  Margaret Gilroy and sixth year pupil Scott McCartney have  been carrying out research on WWI.Librarian  Margaret Gilroy and sixth year pupil Scott McCartney have  been carrying out research on WWI.
Librarian Margaret Gilroy and sixth year pupil Scott McCartney have been carrying out research on WWI.

Captain Tom Drysdale Miller was a pupil at Lenzie Academy and went on to lead a distinguished military career and was awarded the Military Cross shortly before his death in 1916, aged 28.

However, it was only recently discovered by Margaret Gilroy, Lenzie Academy’s librarian and archivist, that Tom’s name did not appear on the school’s war memorial.

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Margaret carried out research into Tom’s upbringing, education and military service and has written a record of his life.

Mrs Gilroy said: “In 1915 Lenzie Academy compiled a role of honour of everyone serving in the forces. When I looked up the role I found out that Tom had been killed and his name hadn’t been put on the war memorial.

“It’s a shame that someone got missed. Tom’s family had moved away from Lenzie.

“In this the centenary year of the outbreak of the First World War, we think it fitting that his sacrifice should be recorded.

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“There’s no space on the war memorial, but we will try and do something to honour Tom. I’m waiting until I finish my research to see if there is anyone else that has been missed.”

Tom attended Lenzie Academy from 1893 to 1896 and later Glasgow High School.

His military career started with the Cadet Corps at school. He served with the 8th (Service) Battalion, the Border Regiment.

On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service. He served in Flanders and France with the British Expeditionary Force from September 1915.

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He spent the winter at Ploegsteert, proceeding to Vimy Ridge in March 1916 and the Somme in early July of the same year.

He was killed in action during the attack on the Regina Trench near Thiepval on October 21, 1916.

Sadly, Tom has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial at the Somme.