A quiet, rather shy, and not often articulate person, he lived a frugal life, loving his business because it occupied all his time and satisfied nearly every curiosity of his inquiring mind.
War came, and Mr.Weir was busier than ever with his ships.

Not until 1917 did it occur to the Government that the work of buying supplies for its gigantic armies was something only to be mastered by a man of business.

The nation may be grateful to Mr.Lloyd George for having discovered in Glasgow perhaps the one man in the British Isles who knew everything there was to know about commercial geography.
Mr.Andrew Weir entered the War Office in March, 1917, as Surveyor General of Supply.

The position was not merely difficult in its nature, but difficult in its circumstances.

Soldiers are jealous animals, and not easily does the War Office take to the black-coated man of business.
Mr.Weir was tact itself.