John Menzies (1894–1941), MA 1921
John Donald Steward Menzies [1913-UC1-047] was born in Dundee, in 1894. He studied at St Andrews under the provincial committee for the training of teachers for at least two years, before joining the 5th (provincial Dundee and Angus) battalion of the Black Watch (the Royal Highland Regiment) during the Great War. During his time in service, he was promoted to lieutenant in the trench mortar battery, and was acting Captain.
He survived the war, and returned to the University: he graduated with a MA and Third Class Honours in English in 1921. The following year, he married Esther Hunter [1913–UC1–033], who had also begun teacher-training at St Andrews in 1913. The couple moved to Montrose, where he taught at Montrose Academy. They had at least one child, a daughter Helen who later studied medicine.
Menzies died on November 27th, 1941, possibly of tuberculosis (he died in the Glenlomond Sanatorium). He is buried in Largo cemetary, near his wife’s birthplace.
This summary was written in May 2026 by Lola Lam, then a first-year MA student of International Relations and History at the University of St Andrews.
Sources: USALM archives; University of St Andrews Roll of Honour and Roll of Service for WW1; Findagrave.com; Dundee Courier (29 Nov. 1941), notice of death.