THE LATE DR ANGUS McNAB

Southland Times, Issue 17658, 16 February 1916, Page 5

THE LATE DR ANGUS McNAB

A TRIBUTE TO A GALLANT FRIEND. (By the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Milner, Bart.. P.C., in tlie Craighleith Hospital Chronicle.) Scotsmen, I know, love to read of the gallant deeds of Scottish heroes, and I propose to place before your readers a short account of the gallant deeds of one. Captain Angus McNab. Angus McNab was born in New Zealand thirty-nine years ago: in 1596 lie came to Edinburgh University, where he worked hard at his professional studies, and interested himself in ath-

letics. He was elected President of the University Athletic Club, and was a prominent forward of the Rugby team. When the South African war broke out, he did excellent work in the Edinburgh Hospital. He then returned to Edinburgh and worked in the Edinburgh Hospital. He then returned to Edinburgh < and worked as House Surgeon in the Ey# Department of the Royal Infirmary under Dr Berry. He then went abroad, and studied in Vienna and at Frieberg under Professor Axenfeldt. In 1905 he began opthalmic practice in London. His work was characterised by sympathy and thoroughness, and he soon began to make his way and to establish a considerable practice. Amongst his patients was Sir Edward Grey; and 1 perconally owe much to his skill and care. He was a man of intense sympathy, and with a magnetic attraction. Ho showed characteristic patience and thoroughness. In everything he took up. He had been attached for three years to the London Scottish Regiment, and when war broke out lie at once threw up his prospects and went out with the regiment. If ever a man was justified in staying at home, he was, for he had only just began to get a firm footing in his profession, he had a delicate wife and two young children, and he was doing a most important and special work for the relief of suffering humanity; but he felt the call of duty came first before All; without hesitation he joined his regiment and went to the front. His extraordinary energy soon showed itself, for before there was any opportunity of his regiment being engaged in the actual fighting, he got together a hundred of the London Scottish to act as stretcherbearers; and making a sort of hospital out of a disused railway shed af Villeneuve, he set to work to render all the assistance that a brave man could. He handled trainloads of wounded men from the deadful battle-fronts of the Marne and Oise, and there is no doubt that by his prompt action he saved a Sreat number of lives. He had a genius for detecting wounds that were likely to prove gangrenous. As he said himself he seemed to be able almost to smell it out, and in this way he saved many whose recovery would have been beyond recall by the time they arrived at the base hospital. It is no exaggeration to say tliat the work he did in this railway shed was simply marvellous, and it earned him the highest commendation of his chief; and there can be little doubt that, had he lived a little longer, his services would not have gone unrecoginised. When the regiment went into action, lie showed the most fearless, almost reckless courage, in rendering serfice to the men as they fell. An officer writing home said: “Every man—officers and privates alike —tells me constantly the same story of his wonderful bravery, devotion, and unselfishness. He was absolutely fearless.” He was severely wounded in the battle, and removed to the base; taut hearing that there were many wounded left on the field, he insisted upon being allowed to go back to attend to them. He was actually kneeling over a wounded man and binding up his wounds when the.Germans advanced, and he was foully murdered by them while he was carrying out this work of mercy. Many a man has received his V.C. for actions not one whit more courageous than those of Angus McNab. He died as he had lived fearlessly and unselfishly doing his duty. In truth, be was a very gallant gentleman. I am proud to number him amongst my friends.

[Dr Angus McNab was, of course, a member of the well-known Knapdale family and a brother of the Hon. Dr Robert McNab, Minister of Justice. He was an ex-student of tlie Southland Boys’ High School and of Otago University. There are many of his school and college contemporaries In Invercargill and Southland.]