Minister was a war hero

Angus author David W Potter saw his loving homage to his birthplace published last year.

Forfar On This Day is a snapshot of daily life in the town over centuries, with an anecdote for all 365 days on the calendar. An entry from 1919 for today, May 13, relates the story of Forfar clergyman David Mcmath.

Mr Potter writes: “In a time of such misery caused by the flu epidemic, and the return of soldiers from the war often in a considerably less happy state than they left in 1914, it is gratifying for the Forfar Herald to report good news of the appointment of a Forfar man and an assistant at Galston as minister to the charge of Sorn Parish Church.

“This young man is David Mcmath, who is not only a fine minister but also a war hero as well. He was the third son of Robert Mcmath of Canmore Street.

“He studied at Forfar Academy, then went to St Andrews University, taking a Master of the Arts degree in 1911 in mental philosophy and a Bachelor of Divinity three years later

in 1914 after winning the Bruce Scholarship. He was licensed by Forfar Presbytery in 1914 but war disrupted his plans. He was commissioned in the Gordon Highlanders then transferred to the Royal Field Artillery where he saw considerable active service and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and devotion to duty.

“He was captain when he was demobbed and took up his post in Galston. He had not been there long when he was called to Sorn, but then again the ministry, like every other job, was short of manpower in those desperate days of 1918 and 1919.

“He had married a Forfar girl called Christina Cargill in 1915. Sorn was a small village in east Ayrshire in the very heart of the Burns country and it is to be hoped that Mr Mcmath had been well versed in the Bard in his Forfar upbringing!”