John Stuart Chalmers
Rank: Major
Date of Death: 17/04/1918
Regiment/Service: Highland Light Infantry (9th (Glasgow Hds. Bn.)
Memorial: Ploegsteert Memorial
Additional information: Son of the late Hon. Lt. Robert Allan Chalmers (Bengal Sappers), and his wife Catherine Barrett; husband of Isobel S Chalmers (nee Robertson) of 20 Cadzow Drive, Cambuslang. One of six brothers who served in the war, three of whom fell.
Rutherglen Lore information: Husband of Mrs. Chalmers, Stonelaw House, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Executor Andrew Robertson Esq. and Andrew Salmond Esq.
Glasgow University information: John Stuart Chalmers was born on the 6th March 1882 in Dagshai, India. He was the son of Robert Chalmers, an Engineer. He joined the High School of Glasgow soon after it was opened and before undertaking an apprenticeship in Law. Like so many of his contemporaries he remained to the last deeply attached to his old School, and the headmaster had several letters from him in which he showed that he kept in touch with all its doings.
He joined the University of Glasgow in 1898, taking classes in Logic, Psychology, Latin and English Literature, before beginning to study Law in earnest. In 1900-01, he studied Civil Law, followed by a class in Law of Scotland in 1901-02. In his final year he studied Conveyancing and International Private Law, and graduated BL on the 5th of November 1903.
Soon after completing his apprenticeship he started in business for himself as a law agent, but also found time to join the Glasgow Highlanders as a commissioned officer.
When war began he was mobilised with his battalion and went to France in November 1914. Major Chalmers when home on leave had a serious illness which kept him at home for a long time.
When he recovered he was appointed to raise, train, and command a company of divisional cyclists. In August 1917, he returned to France to his old battalion. They held part of the line between Bailleul and Nerve Elise, and there while commanding the advanced company Major Chalmers was struck by a shell and killed instantaneously.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour information: s. of the late Lieut. the Hon. Robert Allan Chalmers, R.E.I.A.; b. Dakshi, India in 1882; educ. Hillhead Public School and Glasgow University; joined the Highland Light Infantry in 1900; received a commission and was gazette 2nd Lieut. Highland Light Infantry in 1907; served with the forces in France and Flanders and Great Britain August 1914, and was killed in action near Bailleul 17 April 1918. Buried there. He m. at Rutherglen, Glasgow, 28 July 1917, Isabel dau. of Robert H Robertson of Stonelaw House, Rutherglen.
1901 census information:
Address: 33 Cecil Street, Patrick.
Brother: Robert S (20) insurance clerk, born about 1881 in India.
Self: John S (19) law apprentice, born about 1882 in India.
Also commemorated on the Memorial at Glasgow High School.