George Johnston
Classmates George Johnston and Frank Boles served their country. George was gassed and blinded at Hill 70 and Frank never left France alive.
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Lieutenant Gordon Davis McLean, "B" Coy, 7th Bn., Tank Corps, 28 years old, Class of 1914, Buried Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy. Son of Peter McLean, M.D., deceased, and Elizabeth Davis McLean, brother of Christine McLean, of Ayton, Ontario. B.A. University of Toronto, 1911. Admitted as a law student in 1911 at age 21. Called to the bar 22 May 1914. Practised in Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. Lieutenant 7th Battalion, Tank Corps. Killed in action 21 August 1918.
Lieutenant Lowell Wallace Wood, 4th Bn. Canadian Infantry, 27 years old, Class of 1914, Buried Etaples Military Cemetary, France. Son of John and Sarah Wood of Woodbridge, Ontario. B. A. University of Toronto, 1911. Admitted as a law student in 1911 at age 20. Called to the bar May 22, 1914. Practised in Toronto, Ontario, Woodbridge, Ontario and Fort William, Ontario. Killed in action on October 17, 1918.
Lieutenant William Douglas Bell, 4th Machine Gun Coy., Canadian Machine Gun Corps, 24 years old, Class of 1915, Remembered at Vimy Memorial. Son of James Anthony Bell and Katerine Bell, of 81 Elm St., St. Thomas, Ontario. Admitted as a law student in 1910 at age 18. Enlisted 2nd overseas contingent, 4 November 1914. Lieutenant 4th Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 15 September 1916. Never called to the bar.
The Law School created a special summer session for returning veterans that allows them to complete an academic year in a few months. The Law Society of Upper Canada waived school and articling requirements for veterans. Students receive one year of law school credit in recognition of their service.
As of December 1942 there were 118 men enrolled as students at Osgoode Hall who were members of Canada's armed forces.
Osgoode Hall formed its own contingent of the Canadian Officer's Training Corps. Here they are at Niagara Camp, 1940. The Law School agrees that unlike what was offered to returning World War I veterans, there will be no short-cut summer courses for returning students. Instead, plans are laid for refresher courses to help lawyers return to practice.
Osgoode Hall Rifle Association trained lawyers, clerks, and law students without previous military experience. The Law Society of Upper Canada created a rifle range on the Osgoode Hall grounds, paid for rifles and ammunition, and provided Convocation Hall for military lectures.
A motion passed by the Benchers gives enlisted Osgoode students a passing grade for the year in which they registered, while third year students are automatically called to the Bar.