William McGhie was born on 23 November 1914 at 539 Edinburgh Road, Camlachie in Glasgow. His other childhood homes were 611 Shettleston Road and 40 Braidfauld Street in Tollcross.
He attended Eastbank Academy, Shettleston, Glasgow where he was both a prefect and the school captain. He played for the school football team and was selected to play for Scotland schools v England schools but did not play as he was ill. He also won a medal for hurdling.
He attended Glasgow University and Trinity College. While a student he was a member of the Home Guard and served six months with the Church of Scotland huts in Orkney.
He qualified as a minister on 24 October 1942 which was also the day he got married. He volunteered as an Army Chaplain and was called up two months later.
He was ranked as a Captain and served as a chaplain in France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Aden, India, Ceylon and Burma. He was minister of the Scots Kirk in Rangoon – Lord Mountbatten was a regular attender. He frequently broadcast from Radio S.E.A.C. later known as Burma Broadcasting Service. He presented a weekly feature which was an entertainment round-up of Rangoon. Later he also did religious broadcasting both in Scotland and in Jamaica.
He served with the Highland Light Infantry, the Canadian Army and with the Combined Operations in the Middle and Far East. He also trained with the Commandos.
After the war he was the minister of West Church, Buckie, Banffshire, where he was also chaplain to the Fishing Fleet and traveled with the fishermen to Great Yarmouth.
Next he was minister at St Ninians Church, Stonehouse, Lanarkshire. He was the chaplain at Stonehouse Hospital and it is interesting to note that he helped to design the logo for the Stonehouse Hospital School of Nursing. Here is good evidence that he was interested in design before his involvement with the Jamaican flag.
He went to Jamaica as a missionary in 1957 and helped others to establish and build Meadowbrook High School, Kingston, Jamaica which opened in 1958 with 25 pupils. When Meadowbrook was being formed he attended the University of the West Indies in Kingston to obtain a teaching diploma so that he could help out as a teacher in the school. He was awarded his Diploma in Education by Princess Alice. He was acting headmaster for a brief period. He taught religious education, history, and French. His wife Ailsa McGhie was the school bursar.
He chose the school badge. This was a copy of his own school’s badge from Eastbank Academy, Glasgow. He wrote to the school and received permission from the school authorities to use it. Both schools also share the same motto: Ita splendeat lux vestra (Let your light so shine).
He chose the school colours: Black Watch tartan tunic for the girls and also tartan for the boys epaulettes worn on the shoulder as was the custom with all boys schools (ie wearing school colours on their shoulders)