John Cassels Monteith

John, known as Jack, was born on 4th April 1875 in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire. His father was the Reverend John Monteith, Minister of Glencairn, who was born in Govan and had married Ellen Maria Neve. Jack had a privileged upbringing and was a pupil at Fettes before he went up to the University in 1893 to study for an MA. He was a competent student, somehow combining a seriously full social life with mostly first time passes in his chosen curriculum, which in addition to Latin, Mathematics, English and Philosophy, included Roman Law, Political Economy and the Philosophy of Law.

From this good broad base, he bent his energies outwards towards debating and sport. He was President of the Student Union and the Conservative Club, active in the Students' Representative Council (SRC), the Athletic Club and the Dramatic Club. His debating style was said to be clear and lucid, rather than flamboyant, and he was known for his quiet humour.

He graduated on 4th November 1897, with a host of friends and perhaps a few debating enemies. He had not finished studying and enjoying life yet, however, and he enrolled for classes in Law. Between 1897 and 1900 he attended classes, intending to graduate LLB and take up a career in law. His exam record reveals a student of modest ability, perhaps too busy to excel, or perhaps not highly motivated.

In 1900 he joined the army when the country went to war in South Africa and he accepted a University commission to serve in the Bedfordshire Regiment. In South Africa he climbed up the ladder of staff promotions, and it seems, acquired a reputation being said to have killed four lions in the same number of minutes!

After the Boer war, Jack returned to Scotland and accepted the post as Adjutant of the fledgling OTC. He threw himself into the task of recruiting and enthusing Glasgow's young officer material and took great pride in his well-disciplined corps. The First World War took him away from the OTC and back to his old regiment, the Bedfords, now part of the 5th Division of the Expeditionary Force. He commanded a company of men and saw active service at Mons and the retreat at La Cateau, where he sustained a leg wound that brought him home to convalesce.

His gallant and distinguished service in the field was mentioned in a despatch from Field Marshall Sir John French on 1st January 1915. Returning to the Front, he was in command of the battalion at Loos when he was shot by a sniper. He died in the trench on the 1st October 1915. Tragically, his brother William, who was also a University of Glasgow graduate and the Minister of Elie church before the war, met the same fate just a few days earlier serving with the Rifle Brigade.

Major Jack Monteith was survived by his young widow Jane Robertson Wilson, whom he married on 23rd April 1914, and their son, born only hours before his father's death. When Professor Medley wrote to her of her husband's gallant sacrifice she replied on 10th January 1916;

"Such a touching appreciation of my dear husband is invaluable to me, and I treasure it not only for myself but for my son, who will some day share my pride."

He was buried at Vermelles Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais. The University issued a Memorial Number on 15th December 1915 and claimed him as one of the 'famous men' of the University 'whose work and life we feel a gratitude impossible to express'.