Born in 1885, was the eldest son of Mr. Jas. Gerrard. He became a pupil at G.W.C. in 1895. In business as a merchant when war began, he joined the R.A.S.C. in 1916, received a commission in the following year, and became full Lt. in 1918. He served in France and Belgium, and was wounded in August 1918. He died in Craiglockhart Hospital, Edin., on Feb. 13, 1919.
Was a member of the English Staff of G.W.C., which he joined in 1913. He came fresh from the Univ., with 1st Class Hons. in his subject, and soon proved himself an able teacher and an agreeable colleague. He had been a N.C.O. in the 9th R.S. for several years, and, taking a commission in the O.T.C., rose to command the Corps 1914-15, with the rank of Capt. Transferring to the 3/4th R.S., he did excellent instructional work, and went to France in 1916, where he was attached to the Gloucester Regt. with the rank of Major. He was mentioned in Despatches the following year, and was wounded and ordered home. He decided to stay on, and, with the Hqrs. Staff of the Gloucesters, was destroyed by a German mine in the region of Peronne on Apr. 18,1917, while pressing on after the retreating foe.
The fifth son of the late J. S. Gibb, Treasurer, Edin. and Leith Gas Commissioners, was born in 1875, and attended G.W.C. 1880-90. Having studied law, he practised in Arbroath. He was a keen Territorial, being commissioned in the 2nd High. Bde., R.F.A., in 1910, and becoming a Capt. before the war. In May 1915 he went to the front with the Forfarshire Bty. He was wounded in Sept. 1916, but did not go off duty, and was killed by a shell on Oct. 12 of the same year. He was a prominent cross-country runner, winning the Scottish 4 mile championship in 1900, and gaining his cap for three years in 1896, 1899, 1900, in the Scottish Athletic International contests.
The eldest son of Mr. J. Gibb, stationmaster, Inverkeilor, was educated at the local school and at Arbroath High School, where in 1911 he won the English Medal and was Athletic Champion. He then studied at Edin. Univ. and graduated in 1914 with 1st Class Hons. in English. He was appointed to the staff of G.W.C. in July 1914, but never took up work, for, having been for three years in the 6th R.S., he was mobilised in Aug. Volunteering for foreign service, he was attached with the rank of L/Cpl. to the 4th R.S., and went to Gallipoli, where he fell on June 28, 1915, in the memorable charge of the 52nd Division.
A. Keith Gibson, Major, Royal Army Medical Corps, was born in Leith in 1893 and was a pupil at Watson's from 1901 to 1911. Graduating M.B., Ch.B. at Edinburgh University in 1916, he went out to Salonika as a Lieutenant in the R.A.M.C. and was promoted Captain in 1917. After hostilities ceased he took up practice in Nottingham and later in St. Ives. Subsequently he was appointed Regional Medical Secretary of the B.M.A. in London. Taken prisoner in France, he contracted typhus at a prison hospital, but insisted on working night and day to relieve Russian victims of the typhus plague, and the German military authorities in a message to the Swiss Red Cross paid high tribute to his great sacrifice. He died on 7th December 1941 and was buried with full military honours.
The second son of Mr. T. Gibson, J.P., was born in Edin. in 1894. He attended G.W.C. 1901-11, and was one of the original members of the Cadet Corps. He served on the staff of Messrs. Salvesen and Coy., Leith, till the outbreak of war, when he joined the 4th R.S. as a Pte. Gazetted later to the 15th R.S., he was promoted Lt. He fell in action in 1917.
The younger son of Mr. J. Gibson, S.S.C., Edin., was born in 1894, and attended G.W.C. 1902-12. He took a prominent part in School affairs, being School Champion at the Games in 1912, and Capt. of the School XV. for season 1911-12. Proceeding to Edin. Univ., he was in the final year of his M.A. and LL.B. course when war broke out. He joined the E.U.O.T.C., and was given a commission in the 4th R.S. A fortnight after his Bn. landed in Gallipoli he fell in action, June 28, 1915.
Was born in 1891, and attended G.W.C. 1901-7. He was one of the original members of the Cadet Corps, and one of its pipers. He was studying law at Edin. Univ., and was in camp with the 4th R.S. when war broke out. He served as a L/Cpl. till May 1915, when he got a commission in the 6th Bn. In Sept. 1917 he was awarded the M.C. for conspicuous gallantry. Wounded in the same year, he was sent home for a time, but rejoined his unit before the end of the year. He fell in action on Mar. 21, 1918.
Ronald R. Gilbert, Pilot Officer, Royal Air Force, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gilbert, 44 Viewforth Terrace, Edinburgh, attended Watson's from 1934 to 1938. On leaving school he continued his studies at Skerry's College, and volunteered for the R.A.F. in 1941. In August of that year he went out to America for further training, and returned to this country in May 1942 as an instructor. He was killed in action in August 1943 at the age of twenty-one.
The youngest son of Mr. G. Gillespie, Edin., was born in 1897, and attended G.W.C. 1908-15. He was studying for the veterinary profession, and enlisted in the R.A.V.C. in 1916. Transferring to the R.A.F., he completed his training and was gazetted 2/Lt. in Feb. 1918. Attached to the Military Wing, he saw some stirring fighting in France, and proved himself an intrepid airman. He was shot down by the world-famous Richthoven, and killed instantaneously Apr. 6, 1918.
