Surname:	McPherson
Forename(s):	Hugh Bannerman
Rank:	Lieutenant
Service number:
Regiment:	95th Bde Royal Field Artillery
Date of death:	27 September 1918 Aged 35
Place of death:	Demicourt
Buried Commemorated Award	Hermies Hill British Cemetery – II.G.8 Kingussie War Memorial Military Cross

Background

Hugh was born 30 December 1881 at High Street, Kingussie to Alexander and Isabella McPherson (m.s. Bannerman).

Hugh’s father, Alexander, was born at Alvie and educated in Kingussie and then Edinburgh University where he was a student of law. He became a Chartered Accountant and in 1875, became an agent for the British Linen Bank.  He was posted to Kingussie where he went on to continue in legal practice and also become a JP and Provost of Badenoch. Hugh’s mother was from Loth in Sutherland.

It would seem that his mother died within the first year or so of his birth. In the 1891 Census Hugh was, as a nine year old, recorded living with his father and family at British Linen Bank House, Kingussie. Hugh attended Kingussie Public School and London University. He qualified in 1912 as a C.A. and was working with Messrs George A. Touche & Co. When he is in his mid teens his father remarries. Aged 19 Hugh was recorded as a visitor in a house in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset with other family members. Aged 29 he was in Derbyshire and was said to be an accountant.

At the time of Hugh’s death his next of kin was given as Miss L M Macpherson, of Harperley Hall, West 64th Street, New York City, USA.

War Record

In 1912 Hugh joined the Honourable Artillery Company. He was a Private in the R.F.A. 1914. He was wounded at Ypres in 1915. 

Hugh enlisted as an Officer Cadet in May 1916 and passed out on 2 September 1916 as a 2nd Lieutenant and was promoted to Lieutenant May 1918.

 Hugh was “Gazetted” on 16 September 1918 and his Military Cross Citation of March 1918
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in keeping his guns in action during an enemy attack in great force at close range and under heavy machine-gun fire. He engaged the advancing infantry over open sights, causing very heavy casualties, and fought his command with great gallantry.”

Possibly he was wounded at Ypres in 1915 and Killed in Action on 27 September 1918 at Demicourt. His body was exhumed from where he fell and reburied on 2 March 1919 at Hermies Hill British Cemetery. He is also remembered on Kingussie and Insh Memorial, Kingussie Parish Church and University of Edinburgh: Roll of Honour, WW1