Winston Churchill waves to crowds in Whitehall in London as they celebrate VE Day, 8 May 1945

Along with everyone else, the legal profession in Scotland was impacted by the deaths of a number of its members. To remember those who died, the WS Society compiled a list of their members, including apprentices, who had been killed. During the war, the Scots Law Times provided obituaries for some who died.

To provide an indication of scale, the WS Society recorded that, out of their 221 members and apprentices, 25 were killed, died or were missing and believed killed (their record is dated 1947), two were wounded twice, 13 were wounded once, and 11 were prisoners of war.

On this 80th anniversary, it is appropriate to identify a few to remember and to recognise the sacrifice of all members of the legal profession who had been involved in the fighting.

Squadron Leader Joseph Barry, 37 (LLB, Glasgow University), of Riddrie, Glasgow died on 26 July 1944. He is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt where his inscription on the grave reads: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” An RAF Sector Headquarters for Fighter Canal Zone at Cairo had been set up there from 1941 which also provided a centre for leave where many were buried from the surrounding hospitals dealing with the wounded and sick from the various Desert campaigns.

He had been a partner in R. Macguire Cook & Co, Glasgow, following the completion of his apprenticeship. He had been commissioned in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Administrative and Special Duties Branch (Emergency Commission) before being transferred to the legal branch in February 1942. This was perhaps in recognition of his legal qualifications and experience. He was also mentioned in despatches.

Lieutenant John Renshaw Gifford BA (Cantab) WS, of 12 Spylaw Road and 28 Castle Street, Edinburgh was 40 when he died (believed of wounds) on 10 December 1941. This followed the sinking of his ship, HMS Repulse. That ship was sunk by the Japanese in the Pacific. He is remembered on the Plymouth War Memorial which commemorates naval deaths that have no known grave. In common with many others, he is also remembered on memorials at his preparatory school, Cargilfield School, Edinburgh and his university at Kings College, Cambridge. He was noted as a director of Standard Life and the Wemyss Coal and Wemyss Colliery Trust at the time of his death.

Major William Ian Edward Thorburn BA (Oxon) WS, Royal Scots, Craigerne, Peebles was attached to HQ 2nd division. He was a 28-year-old apprentice when he was killed in action on 21 May 1944 at the Battle of Kohima in India. He is buried at Kohima War Cemetery which lies on the battleground of Garrison Hill. The advance of the Japanese into India was stopped at Kohima in April 1944. Garrison Hill saw some of the most bitter fighting when the Allied forces held out against repeated Japanese attacks. Hand to hand fighting took place over the garden of the deputy commissioner around a tennis court which today is preserved through white concrete marks. His inscription on his grave reads: “Proved true in deed – beyond fear of sorrow wounds or death.” He is also remembered on Winchester School memorial.

Major David Edward Fergus Coates BA (Cantab) Jesus College, LLB (Edin) WS, Perth, 6 Black Watch (RHR) was 32 when he was killed in action on 15 May 1944, having previously served in France, Dunkirk, North Africa, Tunisia and Egypt. He was subsequently buried at Cassino, Italy. He was the son of David Aitchison Coates and Margaret McVey Coates and husband of Wilma and recorded as having a son.

The Allies invaded Italy on 3 September 1943 and made slow progress within southern Italy. The Gustav line held by the Germans stretched from the River Garigliano to Sangro where attempts to breach this line were unsuccessful. A breakthrough was not achieved until 18 May 1945 when Cassino was finally taken after seeing some of the heaviest fighting. The majority of those buried, including Major Coates, fell during that campaign when overcoming the substantial obstacles faced in the Allied advance to Rome.

Private Colin Ross Hunter Inchmartine, Inchture, Perthshire 8 Royal Scots was a 24-year-old apprentice when he was killed as a result of enemy action on 13 June 1941 at Lowestoft and is now buried at Lintrathen Cemetery, Angus. He was the youngest son of James and Margaret Hunter.

An interesting diary entry from Lowestoft for that dates records: “Next morning I found that the Central School near Christ Church had been heavily bombed, a direct hit in the middle. It had been full of soldiers and there were reports that 9 or 15 had been killed and 11 or 19 injured. Some were Border Regiment and some Royal Engineers…”

As we remember them all, we can recall Wilfred Owen’s words “at each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds” on this 80th VE Day commemoration.