MacLeod, William Patrick
Rank: Lance-Corporal
Regiment: 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
Biography: Son of Murdo Macleod, bank agent ; born Stornoway, 9 June 1886 ; educated Nicolson Institute, Stornoway ; graduated M.A., 1910. He taught for a time at Newburgh, Fife, and was later English Master in Jedburgh Grammar School. While at the University Macleod belonged to the "U" Company, Gordon Highlanders, and later joined the Scottish Horse. In September 1914 he enlisted in the 7th Seaforths, and after training in England, was sent out to France in May 1915. He was severely wounded, and was for some time in hospital at home. In October 1916 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of his regiment, then in Mesopotamia, was present at the fighting at Sanna-i-yat, and took part in General Maude's advance to Samarrah. It was in this campaign that he fell, being killed in action at Takrit, 5 November 1917. Macleod never applied for a commission, although well qualified to hold one. He wanted to belong to the rank and file, to take whatever was going, and enjoy no advantage - even declining the supplement to his pay offered by the Jedburgh School Board. On service, as in his student and teaching days, he was the same honest, brave, unselfish friend and comrade and worker - vivid and charming in speech, gay and full of humour, interested in men and in life, unconventional in thought and outlook.
Date of Death: 05 November 1917
Burial Details: Name recorded on the Basra Memorial, Panel 38, Column 1.
Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.
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