Douglas Alexander Bannatyne (1878-1918)

Douglas Alexander Bannatyne

by Colin Campbell

Douglas Bannatyne was born on 25 March 1878, in Glasgow to Mark and Kate Bannatyne. He was the youngest of five children.

In 1900, Douglas matriculated at the University of Glasgow to study Law. He lived with his family at Windsor Terrace in Glasgow for most of his degree and was outstanding, receiving distinctions in all his subjects. He received five prizes during his time as Glasgow, in Constitutional Law & History, Civil Law, Conveyancing, Forensic Medicine and, in Scots Law, he received the Robert Ross Prize for his eminence in class examinations. After graduating with LLB on 21 April 1903, he became a law apprentice and continued living in Glasgow in his family home.

Douglas joined the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps shortly after the outbreak of the First World War and received a commission for the Royal Scots in 1915. He served in the 1st/9th Battalion Royal Scots, serving on the Western Front in France. After being transferred to 51st Highland Division, their baptism of fire with the Division came on The Somme with the attack on High Wood on 23 July with heavy casualties. Later they took part in the Battle of Arras in April 1917. The Battalion was transferred to 15th Scottish Division on 1st June 1918. Douglas was killed in action on 1 August, during an Allied advance on the town of Fere-en-Tardenois, Department of Aisne. He was forty years old. He had never married.

He is buried at the Raperie British Military Cemetery in Villmontoire, Hauts de France.

(Ack: Glasgow University (Image) and text, CWGC, ScotlandsPeople)

Douglas Alexander Bannatyne Monument