Roll of Honour

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Regiment: 6th Battalion Black Watch

Biography: Son of Sergeant John MacBeth, late Bombay Light Infantry ; born Dornoch, 9 October 1884 ; educated Dornoch Academy ; graduated M.A., 1909 ; taught in Blackness Public School, had travelled in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, in itself a liberal education readily assimilated by his Celtic nature ; when war broke out he was English Master at the High School, Dundee. Soldiering instincts were strong in him, and as a lad MacBeth had joined the 1st S.H.R.V., now 5th Seaforth Highlanders (T.F.), but resigned some years before the war. He was commissioned 3 March 1915, being posted to the Royal Highlanders (The Black Watch), and had served for some time on the Western Front when he fell in action during the Battle of Arras, 23 April 1917. He was described as a "resourceful and capable officer", of whom his Colonel wrote : "He was killed when gallantly leading his men in the advance upon the Gavarelle Road, just north of the chemical works, on 23 April ; he fell bravely leading his men after the capture of the German first line during the advance to the second line. He was a splendid and most valuable officer, and one the army can ill afford to lose."

Date of Death: 23 April 1917

Burial Details: Buried at Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux, Plot 1, Row G, Grave 23.

Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.

If you have photographs of anyone listed in the Roll of Honour (preferably in service uniform) or have any questions about this resource, please email memoriam@abdn.ac.uk.