Roll of Honour

Roll of Honour

Bruce, Andrew Mitchell

Rank: Private

Regiment: 5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Biography: Son of Alexander Bruce, Mill of Allathan, Monquhitter ; born New Deer, 30 March 1877 ; educated New Deer Central School. He entered on his professional career as a pupil teacher at Knaven Public School early in 1893, and two years later was transferred to New Deer Public School. At the end of his training as a pupil teacher he entered the Church of Scotland Training College with a Bursary and continued his studies until he graduated M.A. in 1908. He was first appointed to the Inverness Academy and later to the Central School, Inverness. Although Bruce was almost beyond military age and suffered always from the effects of an illness which had delayed his studies, he enlisted under the Derby Scheme and went into training at Ripon with the 3/5th Gordons in April 1916. He was transferred to the Signal Section, proceeded to France in March 1917, and was reported ''missing'' on 23 April 1917. A comrade reported that he had fallen in action at Roeux on that date and this was confirmed later. Both as teacher and as friend Bruce was valued by all who came in contact with him. His keen interest in educational matters, his sincerity and conscientious thoroughness had much influence on his pupils. A brass tablet in the Hall of the School, and the ''Bruce Medal'' founded in his memory, testify to the esteem in which he was held.

Date of Death: 23 April 1917

Burial Details: Name recorded on the Arras Memorial, Panel 8, Column 26.

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


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