Roll of Honour
2nd Lieutenant
George James Rankine Brown
Student
George James Rankine Brown was the third son of Dr John Brown, Bellahouston, nephew of Professor Rankine, of Edinburgh University, and grandson of the Very Reverend Dr John Rankine of Sorn, who was Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1883. Born at the Bellahouston manse on the 24th November 1893, he received his education at the High School of Glasgow. Before joining the Army he was engaged in the service of the Burmah Oil Company, Glasgow. He was trained in the University's Officers' Training Corps, and on the 11th January 1916, received his commission in the 11th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).
His training was further continued in Edinburgh and at Kinross, until in September 1916, he left for India. There he spent - as is bright and informative letters to his people at home showed - a most enjoyable time, travelling through a considerable part of India, and visiting many places of historic interest. In March 1917, he was selected to go to Mesopotamia with the 2nd Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), and there on the 21st April, received gunshot wounds in the chest, from which he died on the 21st May, aged 23. Sadly, his brother, Captain John Rankine Brown also died in 1917, in fact he died two days after George was wounded, on the 23rd April 1917 in Palestine.
Comments and Citations
Obituary: The High School of Glasgow: the book of Service and Remembrance (Glasgow: Maclehose, Jackson, 1921).
Burial Place: Commonwealth Wa