Young Angus McLeod was keen to sign up when the war started. He tried to join the 17th Royal Scots on April 2 1915 at the tender age of 15 years and nine months – claiming to be 19 years and 60 days old. Angus’s true age was soon discovered and he was discharged 27 days later.
The following month he signed up to the 7th Gordon Highlanders. This time he lasted for 127 days before being sent home.
Angus finally reached the minimum recruitment age of 18 and successfully enlisted with the 42nd Training Reserve Battalion Gordon Highlanders on October 1 1917. On May 11 1918, he joined the 1/6th Gordons as Private McLeod.
Upon finally making it to France on May 18 with 142 other men, he was sent straight to the front near Bailleul where he went on to see action in several battles.
At the age of 19 he was killed on the battlefield and buried at the cemetery at Avesnes-le-Sec. In a cruel twist of fate his father who was serving as a sergeant with the Royal Scots Fusiliers Labour Corps met his son just two days before his death on the field.
Artist’s Response
I chose a story called Angus McLeod, and it is about someone who was very enthusiastic to join the army, but he was too young. I chose this image because there were many dates and ages in the story, so I incorporated these figures in my final print.
The Grays School Art student that helped me was Ellie Swanston by brainstorming ideas with me. I made a laser cut print from wood. If I could do it again, I would want to try a different matrix, for example screen printing. The best part of this project was the final printing stage because I got to try different colours of ink and paper as well as using the technique, chine-collé. I had never done printmaking before and doing it was fun.
Pixie Nishina
The International School Aberdeen (ISA)
Pixie Nishina is 14 years old. She is originally from Japan and moved to Aberdeen in August. She has been at ISA since moving to Aberdeen.
