The son of a tobacco merchant, John Inglis Gilmour was born in Edinburgh and educated at Loretto School, Edinburgh. In December 1914, at the age of 18, Gilmour joined the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. On 21 December 1915, he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was posted to 27 Squadron. 2nd Lieutenant Gilmour received Royal Aero Club Aviator’s Certificate 2888 on a Maurice Farman biplane at military school, Farnborough on 17 March 1916.
Six months later, Gilmour downed his first enemy aircraft. With 3 victories each, he and South African ace Douglas Bell achieved the highest scores of the war flying Martinsyde Elephants with 27 Squadron. In 1918, flying Sopwith Camels with 65 Squadron, Gilmour downed 36 more enemy aircraft, shooting down five in one day on 1 July 1918. He was Scotland’s ‘top’ flying Ace. Sadly, Gilmour died by suicide through cyanide poisoning in London on 28 June 1928.
Artist’s Response
Woodcut was a new process for me to undertake, at first I found this different to other printing techniques I have tried, but with the guidance from the tutors at the print studio I was able to create the piece I envisaged. My first cut included the cyanide poisoning under the microscope, which formed the background to the piece and with the propeller I tried to create a sense of depth by portraying this in the foreground. I choose a blend of yellow, orange and red as this best described the hues and tones of the poison, I then went for an overlay of dark blue as a contrast to make my print emerge from the background.
For my second cut I cleared away the background and printed a lighter blue over my initial print to create depth and highlight the layers and cells which cyanide contains. Overall I am pleased with my final outcome and hope it gives an accurate balance between the life and death of a great soldier and inspiring man, and I hope that I by incorporating his death this has not overshadowed his achievements.
Sam McQuiston
City of Glasgow College
Sam instantly engaged with the story and was intrigued by Gilmour’s achievements in the Royal Flying Corps. Sam was also fascinated by the abrupt end he took – taking his own life by cyanide poisoning. Bringing these two elements together he studied cyanide under the microscope and found the abstract lines and shapes tied in with the structure of the aircrafts, he also aimed to include a propeller to further symbolise his contribution to the war.
