Name
Duncan Stuart Ross Macpherson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/11/1914
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Attd 7th Gurkha Rifles
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
I. A. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
ONLY CHILD OF MAJOR GENERAL SIR W.G.MACPHERSON AND ELIZABETH ANNE MACPHERSON
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey Heath memorials
Pre War
Born in Bushey Heath, Duncan was the only child of Surgeon-Gen. William Grant Macpherson and his wife Elizabeth Anna (née Clunas).
He was educated at Fettes College Westminster, and the Royal Military College Sandhurst.
Gazetted 2nd Lieut on the 20th of January 1909 Duncan served his first year in India with the 2nd Black Watch. On the 11th of March 1910 he was appointed to the Indian Army and promoted to Lieut. on the 20th of April the following year. He served in India with the 7th Gurka Rifles at Quetta and on the Persian Frontier in 1912-1913.
Wartime Service
Duncan was on leave in England when war was declared in August 1914 and was appointed Assistant Adjutant of the 8th (Service) Battn. The Black Watch at Aldershot. He was actively involved in the training of the battalion here.
Attached to the 8th Gurka Rifles, Duncan went to France in November 1914. Having been in the trenches at Festubert until the night of the 22nd of November and relieved from their duties, they were ordered to return shortly afterwards following a German attack. The trenches were taken over and the battalion was ordered to counter attack. They managed to regain the lost positions but unfortunately Duncan was killed while in command of the leading company.
Additional Information
His father, Major Gen. Sir W. G. Macpherson od 22 Evelyn Gardens, London SW11 ordered his headstone: "ONLY CHILD OF MAJOR GENERAL SIR W.G.MACPHERSON AND ELIZABETH ANNE MACPHERSON".
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Jonty Wild
