THE latest Eye on Millig column from Leslie Maxwell.

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THE GREAT grandson of the founder of Teachers Whisky, a young Army officer from Cove, was killed in action in the Flanders trenches on May 14 1916.

Second Lieutenant William George Teacher, who was 22, lost his life while in command of his company at Thiepval, a few weeks before the start of the Somme campaign.

The elder son of William Curtis Teacher and his wife Eliza Rowena, of Armadale and later Bellcairn, Cove, and Kilarden, Dowanhill Gardens, Glasgow, he was born in Partick on December 17 1893 and educated at Kelvinside Academy and at Loretto in Edinburgh from 1909-12.

He was a prefect at Loretto, a three-quarter and colours winner in the rugby 1st XV for three years, and he gained three silver medals for winning the quarter mile, 100 yards and long jump. He was also a Sergeant in the Officers Training Corps.

After leaving school he began work at the family firm of distillers, but at the outbreak of war he applied for a commission and was gazetted Second

Lieutenant in the 15th Battalion Highland Light Infantry (1st Glasgow) in September 1914.

His Battalion went to northern France in November 1915 and was doing a tour of duty in the trenches at Authuile. He was killed while going round his ‘D’ Company front-line trenches.

His commanding officer wrote to the family: “I had such a high opinion of him that I asked him to take command of D Coy.”

The Adjutant wrote: “His calm courage and devotion to duty were an example to all, even to older and more experienced men.”

His Platoon Sergeant added: “His cheerfulness in every turmoil, his calmness and coolness in every danger, in all his unrivalled soldierly example has left a stamp on us which I trust will never be effaced.

“To me, a subordinate, whom he treated as a friend, his loss is immense.”

A fellow officer in his company wrote: “From what I have seen of him in the trenches, I can truly say his conduct was magnificent.”

The Captain of ‘C’ Company wrote: “For me we had lost one who, by general consent, was the finest and noblest Subaltern of all.”

He was buried in the British Cemetery at Authuile Military Cemetery, and he is commemorated on the Cove and Kilcreggan War Memorial, just below the name of his cousin, Flight Lieutenant Alan MacDonald Stevenson.

A Memorial Window at Kelvinside Hillhead Church was presented by his parents in memory of their son in 1917.

It was designed and created by Messrs Meikle & Sons, and it is emblematic of the triumph of Right and Justice over the powers of Evil.

They also presented £2,000 to Craigrownie Parish Church in Cove, with the income going towards the minister’s stipend, in memory of their son and nephew.

In 1927 they presented £5,000 to the new radiological department in a Glasgow hospital in memory of the officers.

The Teachers Whisky story began in 1830 when William Teacher obtained a license to sell whisky from a grocer’s shop in the Anderston district of Glasgow.

The company became known as William Teacher & Sons Ltd and it was their forays into the business of exporting that proved key to the growth of the company. It is currently owned by Suntory Holdings of Japan.

A TEENAGE pilot from Cove and Kilcreggan lost his life in an aerial collision in the skies above Egypt on April 5 1918.

Flight Lieutenant Alan MacDonald Stevenson, who was only 19, was flying one of the Royal Air Force’s fastest aircraft when he collided with another machine and was killed instantly.

He was born on June 19 1899 at Eden Villa, Cove, the fourth son of produce merchant John Stevenson and his wife Ellen MacDonald, nee Teacher, and grew up in the peninsula burgh.

Educated at Glasgow Academy, he was a sergeant in the Officers Training Corps and a keen sportsman. At home he was second in command of the local Boy Scouts.

His death came not long after he had received his commission, and he was on the eve of obtaining his distinguishing badge as a fully qualified aeroplane pilot.

The Helensburgh and Gareloch Times reported: “On Sabbath evening last a special memorial service was held in Craigrownie Parish Church.

“There was a large attendance of sympathising friends and acquaintances. The Boy Scouts, under Mr Rae, Scoutmaster, were present in full uniform.

“Suitable hymns were chosen for the occasion, and the minister paid a beautiful tribute to the deceased.”

By the time of his death his parents had moved to 3 Windsor Circus, Glasgow.

They had two other sons on active service, Lieutenant Ian Stevenson RNVR and Surgeon D.S.Stevenson RN, whose ship was first into the Battle of Jutland and last out of it.

He was buried at Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, and is named on the Cove and Kilcreggan War Memorial and in the Glasgow Academy Roll of Honour.