James McLeod

James was the son of John McLeod, who had also previously taught at Latheron School. He married Agnes McArthur in 1914.

James was identified from a description given to Geoff Leet, local historian, while researching Caithness Auxiliary Units in 2004. Geoff's correspondent’s father reportedly would go out for a walk at night with the Latheron school master to collect intelligence. The whole process was secret and at the end of the war, all documentary evidence was apparently burned. The only male teacher at Latheron School was James McLeod. He had a female assistant teacher. 

He was an Air Raid Warden, in charge of the local organisation. Sounding much like an episode of Dad’s Army, with Warden Hodges berating Captain Mainwairing, he wrote to the Home Guard commander to complain. "I blacked-out one room and later on found they had a light on in a room without a black-out. I spoke to them, but not to much effect. I do not want my school to be a dreadful example of how not to carry out instructions."

As head teacher he was also a member of the school board until his left in 1946, having reached the compulsory retirement age.