Roll of Honour
2nd Lieutenant
William Simpson Laidlaw
William Simpson Laidlaw was born in Glasgow in 1899, and was the younger son of James and Margaret Annie Laidlaw. The family lived at Dalveen, in Lenzie, and William grew up with his older brother James Clelland.
William attended the High School of Glasgow, where he was a prominent member of the OTC, the Rugby team, and the Golf Club. When he left school in June 1916, he joined the University of Glasgow's OTC, before joining the Maryhill Barracks as a Gunner. From Maryhill he moved south, attending a Cadet School in Exeter.
William was gazetted to the Royal Field Artillery in April 1918, and was sent to France in June of the same year. He was quickly involved in the military action, joining the front of Armiens in August. He was killed on the 30th of August 1918, at Mont St Quentin, and is commemorated at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
William's brother James was also killed in the War - on the 5th of November 1917 - and both of their names were added to their father's grave when he died in 1923. Their mother's name was added upon her death in 1957.