Claude Boyle May MC
Rank: Captain
Service No: N/A
Date of Death: 19/11/1917
Age: 26
Regiment/Service: Border Regiment (6th Bn.)
Cemetery: Loos British Cemetery
Additional information: Son of James and Elizabeth G B May of 47 Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. James May, 47 Johnstone Drive, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Executor James May Esq.
Glasgow University information: Claude Boyle May was born on 1st June 1891 in Bridgeton, Glasgow, to James and Elizabeth Glen Boyle May. James was a Master Blacksmith and Claude was the couple’s third child and only son.
The May family subsequently moved to Rutherglen, where Claude attended secondary school before transferring, aged 15, to the Glasgow Pupil Teacher’s Institute. There he completed the Junior Student’s Certificate course, which include approximately 270 hours of training and practice in the art of teaching, and was on of the main qualifications for entry to teacher training college. Claude gained the Junior Student’s Certificate in the summer of 1910, and proceeded to the Glasgow Provincial Training College (forerunner of Jordanhill College of Education, now the University of Strathclyde), where he enrolled for a full, four-year course of teacher training offered in conjunction with the University of Glasgow. Students on this particular course were required to take some of their subjects at the College, and others at the University. If successful, they obtained two qualifications: the Teacher’s General Certificate, entitling them to teach in primary schools, and a University degree. Before starting his course, Claude was obliged to take the University’s preliminary examinations as he did not have sufficient Leaving Certificate passes to enable him to matriculate there; fortunately, he secured the necessary pass in Higher French.
Claude concluded his professional training at the Glasgow Provincial Training College in the summer of 1914, qualifying for the Teacher’s General Certificate with additional qualifications to teach music and drawing in primary schools. He also finished his fourth year at University, in which he took Maths and Natural Philosophy, but had yet to complete his studies for the BSc degree when war broke out. Claude enlisted for war service, and was commissioned in November 1914, serving with the 6th Bn. Border Regiment. He became a full Lieutenant on 10th August 1915, just after the regiment had landed at Suvla Bay during the Gallipoli campaign.
He was wounded in that campaign and distinguished himself sufficiently to be mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatches from that theatre of war. Claude was soon patched up, and returned to rejoin the 6th Border Regiment, this time in France, where he was promoted to Captain, and awarded the Military Cross for actions in October 1917. As so often happened, the award of the Military Cross would not be confirmed until 17th December 1917, a month after his death.
Captain Claude Boyle May died on 19th November 1917, aged 26. He is buried in Loos British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, where his parents had the inscription ‘thy will be done’ added to his gravestone. They also added Claude’s name to their family grave in Rutherglen Cemetery.
Scotland, Select Births information: 01/06/1891 in Bridgeton, Father James May; Mother Elizabeth Glen Boyle May.
1901 census information:
Address: 367 Dalmarnock Road, Bridgeton.
Father: James (42) master blacksmith, born about 1859 in Cambuslang.
Mother: Elizabeth Glen (40) born about 1861 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Jeanie (17) iron work clerkess, born 1884 about in Glasgow.
Sister: Jemima (12) born about 1889 in Glasgow.
Self: Claude B (9) born about 1892 in Glasgow.
1911 census information:
Address: 11 Melrose Avenue, Rutherglen.
Father: James (52) manager of rubber tyre works, born in Cambuslang.
Mother: Elizabeth Glen (50) born in Rutherglen.
Sister: Jenny Allan (23) clerkess in a carpet works, born in Glasgow.
Self: Claude Boyle (19) arts student, born in Glasgow.
Newspaper transcript – Private To Captain. Rutherglen Officer’s Notable Career. Killed in action, Captain Claude B. May, Border Regiment, was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. James May, 47 Johnstone Dive, Rutherglen.
Joining the Army in August, 1914, he was commissioned in November of the same year. He was wounded at Suvla Bay, mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatches, and given his second star. After having served in Egypt, he was wounded in France in 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross, and promoted Captain.
Captain May was a student at Glasgow University.
Newspaper transcript – Capt. Claude B. May MC., Border Regiment (killed), was the only son of Mr. James May, member of Rutherglen School Board,47 Johnstone Dive, Rutherglen.
Captain. May joined the Army as a private in August, 1914, and received a commission as Sec. Lt in November 1914. He went to Gallipoli in 1915, where he was wounded in the Suvla Bay operations. He was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatches, and was made a Lieutenant. He was wound a second timing in 1916, when he was acting Captain. Capt. May was a student in Glasgow University at the outbreak of the war, and had nearly completed his subjects for the B.Sc. degree. He was 26 years of age.
Also commemorated on the memorial at West Parish Church, Rutherglen, Jordanhill Teacher Training College, Glasgow and Glasgow University.