Duncan, Harold Forrester

Details
Category: 1917-18

Harold Forrester Duncan

Royal Flying corps

Royal Flying Corps
He is remembered with honour on the St. Michael’s Church Roll of Honour, Larchfield School Memorial, Sedbergh School Cloisters, the Scottish National War Memorial and the Helensburgh War Memorial, Column 2 Line 40.

The family home was at Polkemmet, 6, Upper Colquhoun Street, Helensburgh
The son of Major John Forrester and Mrs Stella Sinclair Duncan (nee Mellish), who owned a tobacconists locally. His father was later to become Provost of Helensburgh.
Siblings: Lieutenant Alan M. Duncan served with the Highland Light Infantry in France.
Sopworth

Harold Duncan was born in Helensburgh, where his family owned Mellish Tobacconists. His father had a military background and was later to be Provost of the town. Harold attended Miss Johnston's school, Larchfield and Sedbergh School in Cumbria. Training as an accountant, he was employed by Messrs Bannatyne and Guthrie C.A., Glasgow.

He joined the Highland Light Infantry (3rd/5th Batt), then transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (70 Squadron). He was badly wounded in a dog fight over the Somme, dying a few days later. He had just been awarded the Military Cross for ‘Conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an aerial combat.’

Only a short time before his death, whilst on leave, he had become engaged to Miss Young of Dunalwyn, 2, West Abercromby Street.

His gravestone reads: ‘Love than death itself more strong’.