Western Front Association Branch Newsletter May 2012, No 94 Review of "Jedburgh's Wartime Sacrifice: The Men of Jedburgh who lost their lives in the Two World Wars. By JD Smith, 2010.

Carter Postcard Collection

An information note from Ken Morrison- MACPHERSON, J. M. LIEUT. K. O. S. B. (not on CWGC records) Not really a non-comm. as there is no clear link between his wounds and his death, but his obituary gives a real sense of he man and of his military service at Gallipoli, in Egypt and Palestine and in France. He is named on the Jedburgh War Memorial, together with his brother James. Jedburgh Gazette 29 April 1921 page 4 Death of Mr J. N. Macpherson. It is with very deep regret that we have to record the death of Mr John Malcolm Macpherson, eldest son of our much respected and highly esteemed townsman, Mr Donald Macpherson, Castlegate. Less than six months ago Mr Macpherson, who was only 29 years of age, left Jedburgh for India to take up an appointment in the Civil Service of that country as Assistant Magistrate at Monghyr, in the province of Bihar and Orisas, and the sad intelligence reached Jedburgh on Monday afternoon by cable of his death as having occurred three days before. It was not given to Mr Macpherson to enjoy good health in the Dependency, and latterly his condition was such as to suggest the expediency of an early return home, and as a matter of fact he had arranged to do so, and his many friends confidently hoped that renewed acquaintance with his native hill and dale would make for his speedy and permanent recovery. The late Mr Macpherson received his earlier education at Jedburgh Grammar School, on the completion of which he attended Boroughmuir School, Edinburgh, and thereafter passed into Edinburgh University. and eventually obtaining his M.A. degree with first class honours in English. On that occasion he was one of only three students of that year who passed with distinction. Mr Macpherson subsequently obtained an appointment in Montrose Academy, and had been professionally employed there for some time prior to August, 1914, when with the outbreak of war events transpired which were destined not only to break the continuity of his scholastic career, but to divert his thoughts to the possibility of entering a wider sphere of activity. When war broke out deceased was a private in the K.O.S. Borderers. but was quickly promoted Qr. Master Sergt.. and later was given a commission. Lieut. Macpherson was on active service on three fronts, Gallipoli, Palestine and France. He was severely wounded at the Peninsula operations, while at the fighting at Gaza be was also badly wounded, and it is to be feared he never fully recovered from those experiences. Mr Macpherson was a fine type of young man, of kindly and unvaryingly cheerful disposition, and altogether engaging personality. A host of friends and acquaintances rejoiced in his appointment to a post of honour and responsibility in a distant part of the Empire in the full assurance of his possession of those qualities which would enable him to fill it with distinction. For Mr and Mrs Macpherson in losing their eldest son, who had but crossed the threshold of what promised to be a brilliant future, the sympathetic feelings of the community have been deeply stirred. This is their second bereavement within recent years, a younger son, Sergt. James Macpherson, having fallen at Gallipoli. It is hard to realise (writes a correspondent) that John Macpherson —whose vital personality impressed all who came into contact with him—has peeled away. He was a young man greatly gifted and the fairest prospects seamed to be opening out for him. A brilliant student, he distinguished himself at Edinburgh University, and was just settling down to his profession when the war broke out, and he passed into the ranks of the K.O.S.B. with that splendid abandonment which was such a fine feature of his character. And when the war—in which he played his part with the courage and distinction which became a soldier of Highland descent and Border rearing—was over and he had returned to civil life, the spirit of the student reasserted itself ; and, setting his mind on entering the Civil Service of our greatest Dependency, be passed the necessary examinations with great credit, and was entering upon his important and responsible duties when fatal illness overtook him. John Macpherson was not only a youth of strong intellect—his was a fine, frank nature, with a happy and sympathetic outlook on life. He was keenly interested in all forms of manly sport. Last year, when at home—where many hearts will be turning in warmest sympathy in these days of poignant tragedy—he took part in the local seven-a-sides at Riverside. and he was also member of the Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club.. He was greatly liked by all among whom he mingled, and it was a joy to many of us to probe the stories of his richly furnished mind.