Soldier killed in WW2 to be added to Fife town’s war memorial

The plans, submitted by Fife Council, propose to include Private George Buglass.

He died on December 21, 1941, aged just 27, while fighting with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots in the Far East.

Currently, Private Buglass is only commemorated at the Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong, and his family are keen for his name to be remembered on home soil.

Margaret L’Etang, his niece from Arbroath, said:  “My grandmother had three sons in the war. My mum used to get very upset when she talked about him-  it is important he was rememebered.”

Ms.  L’Etang lodged a planning application for Private Buglass’ name to be added in 2019, but it didn’t go ahead due to spacing issues on the plaque. At present,  it includes 26 names on two columns with each solider’s rank and regiment.

The new application proposes to extend the plaque.

It proposes taking off the current names to expand the background plaques and reapply the details with Private  Buglass’ name included.

Ms. L’Etang said: “It was a shame that the first application didn’t go through.  It’s great that a new planning application has been made- I’m delighted.

“I remember looking at this years ago and expecting to see his name in either Kinglassie or Cupar and I was suprised when I didn’t see it.”

Private Buglass’ death was announced in the Evening Telegraph on January 22, 1943.

The paper stated: “Mrs Buglass, Balmeadowside Farm, Cupar, has received intimation that her second son, Private George Buglass, Royal Scots, has been killed in action.

“Private Buglass was first reported missing in Hong Kong in January 1942.

“He was a dairyman in Dalkeith before joining the Army eight years ago at the age of 20. After a year’s home service he was a year in India and then went to Hong Kong.

“Private Buglass’ elder brother, Simpson, was also with the Royal Scots in Hong Kong, but was allowed home on compassionate leave on the illness and death of their father, Mr Peter Buglass, three years ago, and is still in this country. A younger brother is serving in North Africa.”

Hannah Brown , Local Democracy Reporting Service